Riley's signature style interweaves historical and contemporary events with elements of fiction and myth to create allegorical histories. His re-imagined narratives comment on a range of issues from the cultural impact of overdevelopment and gentrification of waterfront communities to contradictions within political ideologies as well as commerce and the role of the artist in society and at war.
Each exhibition, or project, is presented as a museum-like setting. Artifacts of questionable provenance and mock documentaries are presented alongside drawings and mosaics.
Duke Riley was born in Boston, Massachusetts and received his BFA from Rhode Island School of Design and his MFA from Pratt Institute. After his first solo show with Magnan Projects in 2005, Riley has been exhibiting his work at venues such as Palais de Tokyo, Paris; PS 1 Center for Contemporary Art, New York; Belfast, Ireland and DUMBO Arts Center, Brooklyn. Solo shows include Sarah Lawrence College and White Box. Riley recently completed a residency at Fremantle Arts Center in Western Australia and currently has a residency at the Chashama Studio’s in New York.
A full color hard-bound book will be available with essay by Eleanor Heartney.
The Pulse Contemporary Art Fair will feature a limited edition silk screen tote bag by Duke Riley for their VIP guests in Miami, December 2007.
Other references:
ArtCal
The Village Voice, 2006
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