Seth Becker: Paintings & Postcards features a group of new oil paintings by the artist, presented alongside a selection of real photo postcards from the artist's collection.  The presentation explores the complex dynamic between the artist as both creator and collector of images.

Building upon the imagery from his recent solo exhibition, A Boy's Head, this presentation assembles a diverse range of subjects, including a  horse thief, a rabbit's head, a hummingbird moth, a toy train, a pheasant, and a zoetrope, among other imagery. Consistently small in format, the paintings stage unfamiliar scenes that highlight the artist's interest in narrative, as well as his technical facility. Elephant Talking Machine features a circus elephant interacting with a gramophone, and Frog Sign captures a young boy casting a frog-shaped shadow. Working to recapture a sense of mystery and joy found in the exploration of the strange or inexplicable, Becker's works mount a quiet argument on behalf of wonder.

Presented alongside the paintings are selections from Becker's collection of real photo postcards—a unique form of vintage postcard introduced in the early 1900s, printed directly onto postcard stock using Kodak’s postcard camera. These postcards, often capturing mundane scenes with unexpected artistry, serve as a rich source of inspiration for the artist. Though the relationship between the postcards and the paintings is never direct, the postcards actively shape Becker’s visual vocabulary, providing architectural frameworks and narrative elements that inform his compositions. Offering a window into his search for the unexpected, the uncanny, and the beautifully unusual, this presentation explores the nature of image-making and collecting, viewing these two impulses as parallel processes of discovery and creation. Situated at the juncture of these interests, the exhibition underscores the relationship between the collector’s archival impulse and the artist’s creative drive.

The artist's presentation for The Art Show coincides with the release of Seth Becker: Chamber Music, the artist's first major monograph, published by American Art Catalogues. This 250-page volume features over 200 paintings produced since 2016, and includes several that no longer exist, reflecting Becker's iterative practice of repurposing earlier works into new compositions. Developed in close collaboration with the artist, the book features a short introduction and offers an intimate view into his developing practice.

Coinciding with the book's release, American Art Catalogues will host a book launch and reception on Friday, November 1st at their West Village space. Additionally, a  focused presentation of older paintings featured in the publication will be on view at American Art Catalogues from November 1st through December 6th, 2024.