Attending Andy Mister: I always knew it would come to this felt like stepping into a carefully composed daydream. Mister’s mastery of pastel on linen—a medium that bridges the lush traditions of Impressionism and the immediacy of contemporary art—creates a world where time feels both suspended and crystallized. His newest collection at Rebecca Camacho Presents offers an exquisite meditation on fleeting beauty, with floral still lifes that are richly detailed and emotionally resonant.
Of all the works on display, my favorite was Carmine Lake Arrangement. Its palette of deep reds and nuanced tones simultaneously energized and calmed me, embodying the duality that Mister achieves throughout the exhibition. The precise details of the blooms contrast with the softness of the pastel, creating a dynamic yet harmonious visual experience.
Two pieces in the show, Saint Flora (2024) and Saint Flora II (2024), were created in collaboration with Oakland-based multidisciplinary artist Tosha Stimage, whose floral arrangements served as the source imagery. These works stand out for their layered complexity and the interplay of artistic voices. The titles themselves feel like a nod to the sacredness of this fleeting beauty, further deepening the connection between the medium, the subject, and the emotional resonance of the pieces.
Mister’s process, rooted in historical photography, breathes new life into secondhand floral imagery while drawing on the visual language of sepia tones and cyanotypes. These references ground the work in the history of image-making, lending the pastel compositions a timeless quality. The collaborative pieces with Stimage amplify this effect, enriching the exhibition with layers of shared artistry.
This exhibition is a love letter to still life, a quiet yet powerful exploration of time, memory, and the beauty found in everyday moments. Mister’s pastels, coupled with the thoughtful collaboration in key works, result in an experience that is both deeply personal and universally resonant—a must-see for anyone seeking art that lingers long after you leave the gallery.
“I always knew it would come to this” is on view and free to the public through 20 December 2024 at Rebecca Camacho Presents, 794 Sutter Street, San Francisco.
