Mysterious silhouettes resembling objects from a chemistry lab hover above and rest on a simple table-like structure. As the title hints, alchemy—once a medieval pseudo-science focused on transforming and separating matter—served as a precursor to modern chemistry.

Paul Gillis navigates the boundary between drawing and painting, blending representation with abstraction through play with light, negative space, and image. Using textured burlap as his canvas, he stiffens the surface with gesso, then meticulously draws with graphite, layering hundreds—sometimes thousands—of cross-hatched lines. From afar, the image appears flat, but up close, the intricate pencil strokes reveal texture, depth, and shadow, inviting viewers into a richly detailed world.

(written by Carlyn Wilder, 2024)