September 5, 2025—October 18, 2025 | Reception Saturday, September 6th, 4-6PM

James Harris Gallery is pleased to present our third solo exhibition with Evan Nesbit title “Pebble Dash”.  For over a decade, Nesbit has worked with burlap as the primary support material for his paintings.   This exhibition demonstrates his explorations of how texture, color and tone can be used to build complex abstract compositions.  Burlap was used as an alternative to linen or canvas in the late 19th century.  Cost was a factor in its use, but many artists after the turn of the century used burlap because of its unique qualities; its coarse weave and texture.  Gauguin, Leger, Klee, Miro, Burri, Tàpies and others chose burlap because of these inherent qualities.  

Nesbit’s choice of burlap is twofold; it enables his investigation into the threshold of painting that exists between perception and visual systems; and it allows for a performative gesture of pushing acrylic paint through the weave to create a heavily textured surface.  

Download the press release