MONUMENTAL MEMORIES | PATON MILLER
Exhibition on view April 25 – May 30, 2026
First Friday Gallery Walk May 1, 2026 5 PM - 7 PM
Guest Curator, Jeffrey Parker
Zach Gallery
17 S. Washington Street, Easton MD
Curatorial Statement:
Often an artist is not fully aware of the gravity their story telling brings to the canvas. They are essentially a vehicle compelled to create as a release of energies both conscious and subconscious that cannot be contained. The great crossroad of an artist is the moment they come to terms with the idea that they must create. A transcendent point when a lifelong relationship begins between the artist and the canvas – raw emotion, life experiences, search, and struggle – reflections and recollections of the world around them.
In the exhibition Monumental Memories, Paton Miller continues this dialogue with the canvas. While there are structural architectural references including his use of visual plinths through many of the pieces, the truly monumental aspect of the paintings are the references to everyday activities or moments remembered. Not the grandiose milestones of a life, but rather the everyday and often mundane measures of a day that for reasons not completely understood become emblazoned in one’s memory. These captured moments may mirror our own experiences – and ones that we recall vividly without completely understanding their significance, and the realization of how distorted our impression of a situation might have seemed at the time. An example depicts an irrational fear of a spider among the minimized pack of wild dogs (Puppies!)
Equally powerful are the figurative aspects of the works suggesting distant ancestors, family, and strangers alike. A tapestry of human connection, feelings of belonging as well as feelings of solitude. Do we recognize these figures or are they conjuring up others that we might have known, all inviting us to become participants in the work. These figurative references equally include animals – perceived both as friend and foe, providing allegorical references to the human condition – questioning trust, empathy and intentions.
In this collection of Monumental Memories, the artist invites us to spend time with each vignette within the pieces and find our place in these shared stories.
Jeffrey Parker, curator
April 2026
About the Artist:
Paton Miller is a New York–based artist, born in Seattle and raised in Hawaii, who settled on the East End of L.I. in 1974 after traveling through Asia and Europe and earning a scholarship to Southampton College. Early in his career, he spent over 20 years working in Fairfield Porter’s studio and became known for dreamlike paintings that blend primitive and contemporary elements through earthy palettes and layered techniques. With over 25 solo exhibitions and global recognition, he has been reviewed by The New York Times and Artforum.
About the Curator:
Jeffrey Parker resides in Easton, Maryland, and New York City, where he serves as President of Jeffrey Parker Interiors, Inc., a boutique interior design firm specializing in high-end residential projects. His work is distinguished by a refined integration of fine art, informed by his extensive international travel and longstanding ties to New York’s East End artistic community. Both fine art and music are fundamental influences in shaping the sophisticated environments he creates for his clients.
About the Gallery:
Zach Gallery is a contemporary art gallery presenting established and up-and-coming artists in rotating group and solo exhibitions. Located within Prager Family Center for the Arts in historic Easton, Maryland, Zach Gallery is part of the Bluepoint Hospitality group.
