Landon Metz

Waddington Custot Dubai, in collaboration with Christie’s Middle East, is delighted to present the first major solo exhibition of American artist Landon Metz in the region. This new group of works, produced specifically for the show, places the viewer's feelings at the forefront of the experience. Where language can be ill-equipped to render the totality of even the smallest of feelings, Being Infinite shares the bounty of an artist facing into the abyss of who we are, why we are and where we are going.

Being Infinite marks the second collaboration of its kind between the gallery and the auction house, joining forces to bring a leading contemporary artist to the region.

Commenting on the exhibition, Stéphane Custot, Founder and Owner of Waddington Custot Dubai (and Waddington Custot, London) says: ‘’It is my immense pleasure to introduce the work of Landon Metz to Dubai, in the continuation of the successful collaboration between Christie’s Middle East and Waddington Custot Dubai. Landon’s work stands as testament to the enduring power of simplicity and the profound impact that a well-balanced palette can have on the human psyche. This palette, it resonates with the muted hues of his Arizona homeland, re-interpreting the arid landscape in an abstract and rhythmic manner. ‘’Being Infinite’’ is an apt name. As we stare into these shapes, our psyche starts to wander, imagining continuation and expansion. It’s this sense of infinity, the same one we feel when staring in the dunes’ horizon, that makes Landon’s work so mesmerising. I invite you all to be mesmerised.’’

Meagan Kelly Horsman, Managing Director, Christie’s Middle East and Suzy Sikorski, Specialist Business Getter at Christie’s commented:

‘’We warmly welcome Landon for his first visit to Dubai while also so happy to host his first exhibition in the Middle East. Both Christie’s and Waddington Custot Dubai share a passion for contemporary art and expanding the awareness of international artists to the Middle East, placing artists and specialists as prominent spokespeople for the cultural exchange in the region.’’ Meagan Kelly Horsman continues, ‘Christie’s will be exhibiting 19 new works by Landon available by Private Sale during his inaugural show in Dubai. Private Sales are an alternative to auction and offer the opportunity to purchase with immediacy and gives international recognition to the show via the Christie’s international platforms and offices around the world.’’’

Elaborating on the inspiration behind this new series, the artist explains:

‘There is an inherent sense of desert in all the decisions I make aesthetically. As I said, I grew up in Arizona, exposed to this raw landscape where life and water are scarce.

There is a sort of faded atmosphere to a lot of my work. I remember, as a kid, the effect the sun and the dryness had on surfaces. All the cars from the Sixties had a particular type of paint job, and the sun would just eat away at it in this really specific way, desaturating the colours and creating a marbled effect.

This sense of the oppressive nature of the desert is baked into my artistic vernacular. Some of the larger works in the show, especially the orange and the blue pieces, have a particularly rugged appearance. They’ve got a bit more of a windswept, sun-bleached energy.’’