12. 26

To celebrate the gallery’s newly renovated space at our Dallas location, 12.26 is pleased to present Building which unites the works of Greg Carideo, Milano Chow, and Will Rogan—three artists who each bring a distinct perspective on the theme of “building.” This exhibition examines the many facets of construction, both in the tangible world and in the realm of ideas, and how these processes weave into memory, identity, and urban life. Together, their diverse inspirations and methodologies reflect the multifaceted nature of urban environments, where different architectural styles coexist and interact.

Together, Chow, Carideo, and Rogan’s works operate like a city with diverse architectural influences. Chow’s theatrical department store-inspired pieces add a layer of historical luxury and nostalgia, reminiscent of a city’s grand landmarks; Carideo’s gritty bodega storefronts provide a counterpoint, representing the everyday pulse and resilience of urban life; and Will’s handcrafted wooden structures offer a grounding presence, connecting the past with the present through traditional craftsmanship.

Milano Chow’s intricate drawings inhabit a space between reality and fantasy, crafting imagined architectures that recall the ornate elegance of historic facades, yet carry a haunting, enigmatic quality. Her work, characterized by finely rendered graphite and layered photo transfers, creates scenes that feel like stage sets—suggesting stories hidden in shadowed corners and behind closed doors, evoking a subtle tension between what is seen and what remains out of sight.

Greg Carideo’s sculptures are born from the everyday—worn materials like cardboard, rusted metal, and flattened cans. Each piece begins with a found object, meticulously chosen and matched to evoke a sense of monochrome harmony or putrefy. Carideo’s art navigates the space between the familiar and the forgotten, transforming objects with their own timelines into works that reflect on rural construction, urban decay, and the quiet beauty of cast-off materials. His works explore how materials evolve, deteriorate, and ultimately find a new place within the art, symbolizing a journey from use to obsolescence to artistic rebirth.

Will Rogan approaches the concept of building through the lens of traditional craftsmanship, yet with a twist that embraces imperfection and spontaneity. Using discarded pieces of wood, Rogan constructs sculptures that evoke a sense of duality—where life and death, joy and melancholy, and humor and solemnity converge. His works, often taking on forms that suggest masks, clocks, or abstract figures, invite viewers to find meaning in the unexpected and to see beauty in the unfinished or the flawed.

Through Building construction becomes a dialogue between form and material, a space where architectural fragments, reimagined objects, and traditional craftsmanship converge. Through the convergence of imagined spaces, reassembled urban remnants, and transformed raw materials, the exhibition articulates a complex narrative of creation and decay, where the act of building is both a physical and conceptual endeavor, layered with histories and embedded with meaning.

12.26

150 Manufacturing Street, #205
Dallas, Texas 75207

214-533-8263

Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: by appointment only.
Saturday: 1pm – 5pm

gallery1226.com