The Leslie Curran Gallery presents TEKTONIC, an exhibition featuring the paintings of Robert Ross and the sculptures of Nin McQuillen. Ross's paintings reveal the alluring geometry of alleyways, construction sites, rooftops and other overlooked places. McQuillen's intimately-scaled sculptures in aluminum, steel, bronze and brass are a synthesis of line, shape and surface that evoke the harmony of standing stones and totems.

Robert Ross's paintings convey the quiet stillness often found in abandoned places with the beautiful light and shadow of an early morning walk. "My paintings reveal the beauty, mystery and hidden life in ordinary, overlooked places. Good design is always my starting point. I strive to capture that moment of first perception, when I see how sunlight, shadows and color give shape to what I encounter," explains Ross.

Nin McQuillen begins with dense, solid aluminum block and rod, found and salvaged, marked by years of weathering. Close examination reveals more than monochrome metal assemblages. The hand-sanded and polished surfaces display a variety of luminous tones, from gentle planar gradations to highly reflective accents.

Shown together, these works share a passion for creating dynamic compositions from complex geometric relationships. "The installation juxtaposes the loose, expressionist style of Ross's two-dimensional works and the finely-honed solidity of McQuillen's three-dimensional sculptures, while also emphasizing the minimalist aesthetic and complimentary formalist strategies they both utilize to create energy and tension in space," explains gallery curator Robin Perry Dana.
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Robert Ross earned an M.A. from the University of Michigan and B.A. from Oakland University followed by classes at Crealde School of Art in Winter Park, Florida. In 2016, Ross was Artist-in-Residence with the Glen Arbor Art Association and is a member of the McRae Art Studios Collective in Orlando.

Nin McQuillen grew up in St Petersburg, maintains an active studio in St Petersburg, and has been represented by Leslie Curran for over a decade. He earned a BS in Broadcasting from the University of Florida. He spent 1972 studying theatre and art history in London, followed by extensive travel to art museums throughout Europe. Varied careers in broadcasting, advertising, teaching and mental health all served as investigations in human behavior, which continue to inform his 40 years of exploration in art-making.