A child-like quality pervades Adam Handler’s works, from the misshapen ghost sculptures to colourful sketches about alien invasions. Beyond vivid palettes and whimsical characterisation, his art explores themes of nostalgia, comfort, and the complexity of belonging.
During his childhood, Handler spent long hours working at his grandparents’ picture framing business in Brooklyn. “It was a sanctuary to be surrounded by the works of masters like Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Joan Mitchell, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol,” he says.
“So, around the age of 18, I decided to pursue life through art and creativity.” At Loy Contemporary Art Gallery in Tudor Court, Handler explores the concept of home as both an emotional sanctuary and a physical space in his debut solo exhibition, “Somewhere Near Home”, which runs until 1 March.
Informed by his attraction to child-like drawings, his large-scale paintings and mixed media pieces blend innocence with profound emotional depth, reflecting on memory, relationships, and identity.
Handler says they allow him to express himself in a pure and emotional way. “Rather than engaging the public intellectually, I chose to engage them emotionally.”
The exhibition also marks the first time we are seeing Handler’s clay sculptures in his 20-year career. They include his mini Ghost Home clay creations, which inspired the exhibition title.
By creating art, he hopes to reveal more about himself, especially his playful and vulnerable side. “It highlights my softness, which can’t be seen in a photo of me working in my studio or even in a short conversation.”
