This charcoal drawing is part of an ongoing series born from the artist’s homesickness and nostalgia for the American West while living abroad. With compositional arrangements stemming from indecision and displacement, the paper itself tells a story through a process of time and abuse. The drawing is comprised of traditionally adorned dancers, some sort of animal, and a lonesome cowboy laid out in an uncertain space. Ultimately, Plumer hopes to solicit an appreciation for the American West, even from those who are unfamiliar with it.

With training in portraiture, Griffin Plumer draws attention to people in his work. He uses charcoal and a gift for storytelling to reflect the human complexities in our smoke-and-mirrors society. By layering his subjects in flourishing arrangements, he hopes to project a narrative that’s, nevertheless, open to interpretation.