"On the Return" features new works from painter James Austin Murray who continues to demand that we put aside preconceived perceptions of light and dark and explore their evolving role in our lives. Murray rakes, scrapes, and physically moves his thickly applied jet-black paint, making the flat surface expand, contract, ripple, and pulse. Each painting is informed by years of innovative, intentional practice that is tempered by the fickle nature of wet oil paint. Murray’s ability to create an infinite possibility with paint and canvas is one that belies the limitation of material. The simplicity creates a visual complexity that can only be experienced when standing in front of one of his paintings. With each painting, we are given a glimpse into Murray’s artistic and material perspective.