Doug Argue’s new works explore themes of Vision, Presence and the Sea — blending reflections, perception, scale, and layered meanings. The pieces invite viewers to actively engage and recognize their role in interpreting the art. The title of the exhibition, The Observer Effect, draws from quantum physics, the idea that the act of observation can influence the outcome or state of what is being observed. This concept resonates deeply with Argue’s work, where the viewer’s presence becomes part of the experience, subtly shaping the meaning and interpretation of each piece.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Argue’s forty-year painting career has culminated in a striking body of work that encompasses a diversity of mediums and formats. His compositional approach extends to both spatial construction and figural depiction in an oeuvre that lyrically conjures metaphors and art-historical references to the past and present. Argue’s work has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions including at the Richard Heller Gallery, Santa Monica, and in New York, Edelman Arts and Haunch of Venison. Two of his paintings were commissioned for the lobby of One World Trade Center in Manhattan. His work is held in the collections of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Walker Art Center, Weisman Art Museum, and numerous corporate and private collections. Argue has been the recipient of multiple awards including a Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant (1995) and the Rome Prize (1997).
