THE FOCUS

Tops Gallery is a contemporary art gallery founded in 2012 by Matt Ducklo and located at 400 S. Front St. in Memphis, TN. A second exhibition space, Tops Gallery at Madison Avenue Park, also features Tops programming and is located at 151 Madison Ave. in Memphis, TN. Luther Hampton opened on August 31, 2020 and will be on view through December 31, 2020. Virtual Gallery Visit, Tops Gallery, Memphis, TN (feat. Luther Hampton) Virtual Gallery Visit, Tops Gallery, Memphis, TN (feat. Luther Hampton) Virtual Gallery Visit, Tops...

Rachel Bubis: What’s it been like getting a physical exhibition together in the midst of a pandemic? I know you also had a show recently at Cheekwood. KJ Schumacher: Quarantine was a Godsend for me, as it gave me some of the most uninterrupted time in the studio I’ve had in almost two years. I got organized, got focused, and got to work. Before Rinna, I prepared the @Home show for Cheekwood. The COVID-19 situ...

"I currently focus on merging my natural and domestic environments with abstract techniques. Oscillating between narrative symbolism and action, my paintings are winged by drama, lighting, and tactility. Navigating interior and exterior spaces, I often juxtapose unlikely color schemes with traditional spatial arrangement. With each layer, each series of marks, events, actions and reactions, I gently nudge the work toward a saturated, emotional state. I seek visual and historical balance in my exploration of energy, renewal, memory, and familiarity." —...