NATHAN BRAD HALL - “Undercurrents” at Gallery Victor

Nathan Brad Hall, I love You the First Time, oil on linen, 80" x120"

I recently received an email from an old friend who wanted to make sure I knew about an exceptional exhibition that just opened at Gallery Victor in Chicago. He thought I’d be interested, given a series of large-scale male figurative paintings I created in the early 2000s—meditative works exploring the moments between sleep and waking. In those paintings, I used dramatic contrasts of light and dark, “chiaroscuro” inspired by my passion for the paintings of the Italian master Caravaggio. Naturally, I was excited to see the exhibition. So, this past weekend, I ventured out to the River North Gallery District to view the large-scale paintings and charcoal drawings of Nathan Brad Hall.

I wasn’t disappointed. The exhibition is visually stunning—filled with atmosphere, nuance, and a sensitivity to the human experience. Each painting offers a bold and emotionally defenseless rendition of the figure, inviting the viewer into a space of raw vulnerability. Hall paints human emotion—capturing quiet moments of introspection—the moments when we consider possibilities or confront our fears. Through subtle gesture and expression, Hall paints not just the human body, but the emotional undercurrents that run beneath the surface of the flesh.

Nathan Brad Hall, Day Break, oil on linen, 58" x 58"

Lighting becomes a secondary character within Hall’s compositions. At times, it's harsh—emphasizing the musculature of the figurative form. This approach is evident in Day Break as well as in many of Hall’s charcoal-on-paper works. Yet the romantic use of dappled light is also central to his practice. In I Love You the First Time (oil on linen, 80” x 120”), Hall utilizes filtered light for a dreamier effect, with highlights and shadows flowing across the figure and fragmenting the picture plane into abstract areas that guide the viewer’s attention through the composition. The level of detail commands the viewer’s attention: the hair appears dimensional, and the eyes seem to peer directly into the viewer’s soul.

With subtle references to the dramatic realism of Caravaggio, Nathan Brad Hall creates evocative modern meditations of presence, power, and vulnerability. He paints the human form with precision. The depiction of flesh is flawless in its imperfections—both beautiful and scarred, emerging from darkness into stark focus. The compositions are cinematic, yet emotionally intimate. 

The Undercurrents exhibition continues through August 30. Gallery Victor is located at 300 West Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60654. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday 11-5. Additional Information can be found at galleryvictor.com

Nathan Brad Hall, Haven, charcoal on paper, 29.5" x 23.5"

Nathan in the studio with I Love You the First Time

Nathan Brad Hall lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. His work has been widely exhibited and is held in private collections across the U.S. and internationally.

Thursday, October 8th... Art in Chicago

There are two amazing art events happening—this Thursday—in Chicago. First, the reception for the Maggie Meiners "Childhood Contemplations" exhibition takes place at The University of Illinois at Chicago, Student Art Lounge, from 4-7 PM. The gallery is located at 828 S. Wolcott in Chicago. The show continues through October 30th.


Then... from the Chicago Art Institute Web Calendar, In conjunction with the loan of Caravaggio's "The Supper at Emmaus" from the National Gallery, London, Keith Christiansen will lecture on the path-breaking genius of this Italian Baroque master. Christiansen is a leading specialist in Italian painting from the Renaissance through the 18th century, and has worked on all aspects of Caravaggio's art. In this lecture he will look closely at the artist's pictorial style, which at the time was considered radically modern and remains compelling today, nearly four centuries later. The Lecture will take place in Fullerton Hall of the Art Institute of Chicago, from 6-7pm. The address is 111 S. Michigan Avenue.

Image: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.The Supper at Emmaus, 1601. The National Gallery of London, Presented by the Honorable George Vernon, 1839, NG172.