In spite of titles that take us back to ancient Greek myths and Biblical stories, Charles Garabedian’s paintings are populated by refugees — men, women and children so far out of their element that their various states of homelessness make being a fish out of water seem like a walk in the park.

Every inch of every picture in Garabedian’s magnificent exhibition at L.A. Louver screams “out of place, out of step, out of whack” along with “out of joint, out of luck” and in some cases “out to lunch.” Trauma, both physical and psychological, is the soil out of which Garabedian’s pictures sprout, blossom and bear fruit.

Tough judgments are integral to the 92-year-old artist’s Realism. Unsentimental and bracing, Garabedian’s drive to tell the truth is accompanied by his willingness to give fools ample rope. Humor suffuses his deliciously intimate murals, which leave no room for pity — self or otherwise.

- David Pagel, Los Angeles Times

Read the complete L.A. Times review here.

Charles Garabedian: Sacrifice for the Fleet is now its final week and closes on Saturday, 7 November 2015.

IMAGE: detail of Sacrifice for the Fleet, 2014, acrylic on paper