Modern Americana

With his statuesque, Pop Art figures, Danny Galieote creates paintings that feel timeless. At Maxwell Alexander Gallery in Los Angeles, he will show his works in a solo exhibition that takes place November 3 through 25.

Afternoon Pastoral is a farm panorama that exemplifies the American Dream, showing men and women working the land to put food on the table for their families. “It’s a cinematic film pan across the farm,” explains Galieote. “It’s only 43 inches, but I can imagine it being 43 feet, as a grand landscape with those sculpturesque figures.”

Galieote is inspired by the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. “My mom’s dad was in the Navy during those times and traveled the world. He would tell me those stories when I was a kid, so I feel like I sort of grew up in that era.”

The artwork of the time was incredibly touched by the Works Progress Administration, which commissioned artists to complete thousands of murals. “Murals read well from a distance when they are well designed, and they have a sense of flow and fluidity. That’s really what I’m going for,” the artist says.

Featuring a crowing rooster, Country Morning harkens back to a simpler time. Galieote grew up in Los Angeles, but on a small farm with horses and chickens. “Every morning at 5 o’clock I’d wake up to Mean Joe,” he laughs. “Even though I was living in contemporary, modern LA, my childhood had a really traditional Americana feel.”