Currently on view at Maxwell Alexander Gallery in Los Angeles, California is artist Eric Merrell's solo exhibition, "The Ranges Between."

In seeking to make work that is distinctive and true to himself, Merrell has gravitated towards the Mojave Desert as a motif that has engaged him for nearly two decades. As a way of further exploring and working in some of its more remote sections, he applied to and was given a residency with the Mojave National Preserve Artist Foundation in 2019.   Through the residency he spent five weeks exploring and settling into the harsh but beautiful landscape.  After the delay brought on by the pandemic, he opened “The Ranges Between” at the La Quinta Museum in La Quinta, CA in February of 2021, a solo exhibit based on his residency.

The residency took place in The Mojave National Preserve, situated in some of the easternmost sections of the California desert, located between the 15 and 40 freeways – if you’ve ever done the drive to Vegas from Los Angeles, you know how remote this is.  To give you context to the size and scale of this project, the Preserve itself is twice the size of Rhode Island and has no services, gas, food, or lodging within it. 

Merrell’s focus is always on designing with color and shapes whether he’s outdoors or in his studio. These particular elements are some of the most noticeable that an artist can use to signal their individuality. Given the time to explore the Mojave Desert in this much depth allowed him to see things beyond the lens of reality and produce a truly inspiring group of paintings for his latest exhibition. 

Some of my gouache pleinairs

1. Berkeley, CA

2. View of Cesar Chavez bridge from 6th street viaduct, Los Angeles

3. Baxter street, Echo park, Los Angeles

4. Cesar chavez bridge, Los Angeles

5. The Richmond, San Francisco

6. Lower east side, NYC