Summer of ’87. Acrylic on canvas 20″ x 20.” 2007.

Perhaps one of the reasons I’m drawn to Jake Longstreth‘s paintings of suburban landscapes is because I grew up in a rural neighborhood that was the product of suburban sprawl. My childhood consisted of standalone stores, hideous business parks, in-ground neighborhood pools, and massive empty parking lots — sounds lovely, right? It’s not that I adore these eyesores but rather the sense of comfort they provided, signs of life if you will. And as Longstreth demonstrates, even this bleak landscape can prove to be a source of inspiration.

View more of his paintings, here.