Words I’ve Never Said Solo Exhibition

Connect Gallery, Chicago, IL | April 18th – May 22nd

EXHIBITION STATEMENT

              Words I’ve Never Said is a body of work that explores themes of grief, love, acceptance, and mental health challenges. Displayed works were created from 2023 – 2025, and chronicle Anthony Bartley’s personal experiences with love and loss in a way that feels approachable and familiar even to children. Conceptualized as a eulogy to communication, this exhibition serves as a reminder of all the things we wish we could have said to someone before it was too late. Whether that person is physically removed from one’s life or emotional connections have been lost, this exhibition serves to remind us of these fleeting moments and to serve as a point of reflection and healing as we look back on who we were and where we are now. 

              The works in this exhibition are immediately visually striking with vibrant colors and expressive characters, but steeped in symbolism and easter eggs that reward deeper analysis. Figures in these paintings often find themselves at low points that are in stark contrast to the nostalgic color palettes and illustrated style used by Anthony Bartley. However, this visual irony allows the work to be appreciated from an aesthetic standpoint without turning off viewers who may not have the capacity, or even care, about the deeper meaning and emotional content of the work. The strong community focus through interactive activities and programming asks viewers to reflect on the purpose of the art as more than just a tool for the artist’s self-expression by constantly engaging the space and art as conversation starters, inspiration for other artists, and a catalyst for social change.

Works on Display