'Do You See Me?' New Work from Troy Gua

Seattle Artist Troy Gua Begs The Question “Do You See Me?” At Capitol Hill’s Vermillion

Seattle, Washington (June 9, 2009) - Vermillion is proud to present Seattle artist Troy Gua in “Do You See Me?” opening Thursday, July 9th at 6:00 p.m. Following a successful run at Seattle Art Museum Sales and Rental Gallery and a well-received showing at the Seattle Erotic Art Festival, Troy Gua switches gears and takes a break from his popular ‘Pop Hybrid’ series to present a solo show of new work inspired by the online social networking phenomenon, the human desire for validation and his own forthright pursuit of notoriety.

Fed by Troy’s fascination with fame and Facebook, this challenging new work has culminated into several series and introduces, among other things, a multi-pieced look at the internet’s shocking ability to reveal truths, a grouping of “flesh” covered canvases alluding to the struggle for self expression and individuality and a series of large scale photo-based portraits of people instrumental in Troy’s race for notability, including Vermillion’s Diana Adams, artist/entrepreneur Greg Lundgren, SAM Gallery’s Barbara Shaiman, artist/writer Joey Veltkamp and Troy’s beloved wife Catherine.

Troy’s statement for ‘Do You See Me?’:
“Viral fame. Digital personas. Social networking obsessions. What we choose to see, what we choose to show and the universal human need for validation. This man’s personal quest for recognition and esteem. I’m Troy Gua. Do you see me?”

Troy has been steadily gaining exposure in the Seattle art scene and has recently been invited into the 8th Annual PONCHO Invitational Fine Art Auction, recognized with a Special Award at the Art Port Townsend Juried Art Show by SAM Gallery Director Barbara Shaiman, included in the Expressions West show at the Coos Art Museum in Coos Bay, Oregon by Gage Academy’s Gary Faigin, presented in Volumes Four and Five of The Open Studios Press’ Studio Visit Magazine, and has been featured in several local online and printed arts publications, including being chosen as the subject of this January’s “Curator’s Eye” piece in City Arts Magazine by Greg Lundgren.

“I think what thrills me about Troy Gua and what is most interesting to me is watching him experiment and explore…” Greg Lundgren – “Curator’s Eye,” January 2009

In candid disclosure of his fixations, desires and dreams this July at Capitol Hill’s Vermillion, The Stranger’s “new favorite place,” Troy Gua side-steps the expected in his new solo show, promising experimentation and exploration in abundance whilst beseeching his audience, “Do you see me?”

Vermillion is located in Seattle's Capitol Hill's neighborhood at 1508 11th Avenue and is open Tuesday through Sunday, 4pm until late.