one

Folktales, a series of twelve paintings balances a melody of folktales, myths, legends and personal experiences of the artist. as a first-generation twenty-something American, reflecting on one's own cultural heritage is paramount in understanding our sense of self. 

The stories presented are not merely illustrative; they are loosely woven into the fabric of painting, serving as a foundation that reflects the artist. these paintings invite viewers to explore the artist’s looming themes of identity, belonging and intergenerational dialogue that shapes his everyday.  

"Under the blinking warm bulb
rests a quaint little bed
on a small broken frame.
Struggling to peel my legs
from the sheets
my body tumbles
Onto the shag carpet, 
full of dust and ruby hair.

One foot in front of the other
we drag 140 pounds 
down the stairs,
across scratched laminate,
to a fridge, 
decorated with fingerprints 
reaching to the back 
for week-old leftovers."

In this solo presentation, ideas once left behind take center stage. Through this series of battle-worn paintings, Bhare sifts through the good, the bad, and the ugly—depictions of ordinary life layered with color and line, emotions at their peak of instability, and things better left unsaid. He reflects on whether he has discovered a deeper well while growing as an artist or if his past ideas will outshine anything he could create in the future. The remnants of his emotions run cold, but with the right care, they could be warmed into something great.