Portals is an exhibition of new paintings and drawings by David Welker.

The concept of a transformational portal has been an enticing idea for David Welker since childhood. The idea of stepping through a secret passageway and emerging in another place or dimension is irresistible to him. Welker travels these imagined dimensions through his practice and, via his work, hopes to offer viewers a similar feeling of being transported.

The pieces in Portals are eclectic yet related. The paintings reflect Welker's inward contemplation of an imagined "Neon City," while the drawings mix Rococo landscapes with pop culture elements for a bizarre twist. The paintings, in particular, navigate a delicate balance between the literal and the non-literal. They are abstract in part yet distinctly pictorial, evoking a sense of place without demanding it. Technically, the drawings are dense and meticulously rendered, whereas the paintings are delicately layered and gradually developed over time.