Bill Travis (New York City):

American Democracy at Risk: An Artist's View

As American democracy has come increasingly under attack from within, and lies, conspiracy theories, and physical violence thrive, artist Bill Travis has sought to express his fear and rage as authentically as he can, through images. The photo-based pictures he has made over the past few years find inspiration in the art of Francisco Goya, especially his Black Paintings, with their powerful examination of humanity's dark underside. Rather than depict actual individuals, Travis focuses on emotional forces, which is why his series deals with images of conflict. What's happening in the United States today is transformed into a visual realm that creates its own time and space.