Second Street Gallery is pleased to present THE LABYRINTH, a solo exhibition of new works by Charlottesville-based artist Clay Witt, to be held in the Main Gallery from December 1, 2023 to January 19, 2024.

Immersed in the rich symbology of early American mourning art, Clay Witt's work reiterates the simple but enduring lessons of memento mori — reminders of the inescapable cycle of life. His process is meticulous: consisting of many-layered constructions of mineral-pigmented glazes that have been heavily abraded and destroyed, contrasted with the graphic edges of painstakingly cut Japanese washi paper. This deliberate, practiced decay grants his work a naturalistic feel, emulating the cycles of deterioration and regeneration in nature itself. This technique demonstrates both strong contrast and harmony within his work, juxtaposing the frailty and persistence of life, with an otherworldly quality that both intrigues and disquiets with unanswered questions, mystical suggestions, and the weight of unseen forces.

This exhibition is a Season 50 Call for Submissions pick and is generously sponsored by The FUNd at the CACF, Charlotte and Ralph Dammann, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.