David Kim Whittaker

Opera Gallery, New York

Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2020

In breathtaking visual interpretations of his own inner conflicts, David Whittaker captures the delicate balance between one’s own interior and exterior worlds. His “head studies” reflect not only his personal story but gently invite the viewer to reflect on the universal questions of identity, consciousness, and purpose. One such rumination on the human condition, Crucifixion One positions an intricate rural scene within an abstracted skull, elegantly exemplifying the explanations of cognitive dissonance for which Whittaker has become known. 

As ribbons of color flow down from the finely painted canal scene, the pastoral tranquility bound within Whittaker’s roughly painted head seems to melt away. Outside of the body the space appears empty, filled only with a clear blue. A poignant visualization of the discrepancies between the inner and outer self, Crucifixion One echoes Whittaker’s struggles with gender dysphoria while gracefully offering space for the viewer to contemplate their own inner discord. At once haunting and serene, Crucifixion One is both an artist’s commentary and disclosure, a record of past trials and halcyon days.