On an all new episode of The Art Career, Emily sits down with artist, Nick Doyle, in his Ridgewood studio where his recent installation, Human Resources, a friendly neighbourhood kink bar, is situated until it leaves for Paris. The two have a brave and intimate conversation about sexuality, shame, and, of course, art.

Nick Doyle is keenly aware of the legacy of the American notion of Manifest Destiny. Known best for sculptural wall works made from collaged denim, Doyle infiltrates the vocabulary of Americana to examine greed, excess, and toxic masculinity. Doyle uses the road trip—a pillar of American mythology—as a point of entry to his work in order to question the persistence of Rugged Individualism as the fabric of our national identity. Through a series of mechanical miniatures, theatrical scenery, and satirical prop-like denim works, the artist foregrounds the dangers of nostalgia and our evolving relationship to consumerism. Seemingly innocuous, Doyle’s imagery—vending machine, typewriter, cigarette pack—and materials—indigo and cotton—tell a story of American colonialism and consumerism, as well as explore the influence of media on global trade systems. By employing materials that hold cultural significance, the artist both reflects on and critiques social and political agendas that are often at play in contemporary life and visual culture. 

https://www.nickdoyle.org

https://www.perrotin.com/artists/nick_doyle/777#news

https://www.instagram.com/nickdoyle333/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/human_resources._/?hl=en