O-1 Visas
The title of Non Charoenwattananon’s recent exhibit at Timeless Art Gallery sums it up: What Now? Indeed, what now for young artists, especially foreign-born ones, who have spent the past few years working hard in the U.S.? It becomes ever more difficult to stay, even as one gains economic and creative stability. The plentiful fruits of that labor, in Charoenwattananon’s case, include an array of artworks made over the past few years, many that he tables at conventions like C2E2. On view were a series of moody ink drawings, presented on small glass sheets and an enormous paper scroll, a pair of lush tropical paintings, and a quartet of digital prints whose colorfulness belies the torment the artist depicts himself experiencing in relation to thoughts of past, present and future. Prints of characters from animated media, including some in the format of tarot card designs, look a little bit dangerous, and it’s hard to believe that the same person drew them as drew a set of stickers featuring a cute wee creature, basically a blob with two dark eyes and a pair of long legs, engaged in activities ranging from smelling the flowers to DJing to checking out some art. Is he the artist’s avatar? I hope so.
—Lori Waxman 7/2/26 6:03 PM