Conduit Gallery will present "Steam (for Archie Shepp)," a solo exhibition of paintings by Dallas-based artist, Stephen Lapthisophon.

The exhibition will feature paintings all produced in 2020. While not revolving around any central theme or subject, the works carry a shared set of strategies and approaches - the use of collaged surfaces, common everyday materials, text and language fragments and embedded historical references.

The title of the exhibition itself refers to the American musician and composer Archie Shepp whose 1972 album Attica Blues includes the song “Steam” as well as an array of spoken word poems, big band arrangements and recitations of political texts. The album, which features notable musicians of the '60/'70s jazz avant-garde, as well as choirs, significant political figures such as William Kunstler and untrained performers including children, draws from a wide-ranging variety of participants reflecting the spirit and multi-layered sources of paintings in the exhibition.

The paintings draw from diverse strategies of surface construction built with historical reference. The references integrate text, material and language elements to honor past artists and art movements. Titles of pieces in the show focus on sound as well as image - Swirling, Skin, Senza, Silence and Steam.

The exhibition will remain on display through February 13.