DAP bids Willis farewell with ‘Everything Must Go’ exhibit (July 17 to July 30)

Calvin Peeing Bumper Sticker by Thomas Ray Willis. 2017. Vinyl on Ford tailgate. Photo courtesy Thomas Ray Willis

The Dorchester Art Project (DAP) will host a farewell to its first-ever resident-artist Thomas Ray Willis by presenting his solo art exhibit “Everything Must Go” by appointment from July 17 to July 30.

A reception and goodbye party will be held Fri., July 28, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the artist-run studio and exhibition space at 1486 Dorchester Ave. in Fields Corner.

Willis, who lives in Dorchester, has been with Dot Art for the last six years. He received his BFA in painting and drawing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and has been working as the Instructional Technology Specialist for the Art Departments at Wellesley College. He will leave Boston in the fall to pursue his Master of Fine Arts at New York University.

Over the course of tenure at DAP, Willis defined himself as an artist with interest in the rituals of experience economy, focusing his paintings, objects, and performances on elements of irony and references to American visual culture, touching on global consumerism and the commercial status of the art object.

His works have been exhibited at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s 2013 Biennial, the New Art Center, Casablanc Gallery, Jewett Art Center, McGladery Gallery, Proof Gallery, How’s Howard, Gallery 263 and other art spaces throughout New England.

As the title suggests, pieces exhibited in “Everything Must Go” will be for sale. To view his work, visit thomasraywillis.com.

Topics: 


Subscribe to the Dorchester Reporter