“The” is the word, and Justin Nelson (b. unknown) makes us focus intensely on it. Although not much is known about this former University at Albany Fine Arts graduate, his work fits perfectly into this text-based exhibition, as it forces us to meditate deeply on the word. While a very simple word and used modestly in this work, “the” has great power in language to classify other words and phrases. However, when viewing it on its own in Nelson’s work, we are forced to see the word not only as language, but also as a visual form within a larger composition.
–Affinities and Outliers: Highlights from the University at Albany Fine Art Collections