Nervous City 1971

Red Groom’s created this painting of “Nervous City” with an energetic blend of bold colors and lively characters, capturing the pulse of urban life. The scene unfolds with chaotic marks and scribbled text. Looking closely, you can almost feel the grit and energy, the layers of paint seem to mimic the layers of the city itself. It's like the paint has been applied with the same reckless abandon as the city seems to operate. There is a figure, smack dab in the middle, with what looks like tattoos on their shins, that kind of sums up the whole image. It’s raw, a bit vulgar, but undeniably human. Grooms, like, say, Philip Guston, isn’t afraid to be a little messy, to let the process show. It’s this embrace of imperfection that makes the work so damn engaging, and a true representation of this artist.