David Rankin, “Hakone” (1973).

Moss Galleries presents “Earth and Light,” a solo exhibition featuring abstract paintings from the 1970s by internationally renowned artist David Rankin. On view at Moss Galleries in Falmouth, the show will run from July 7 through Aug. 26, with an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. July 7.

“David Rankin’s paintings from the 1970s bear witness to his engaging and creative lifestyle,” said Moss Galleries owner Elizabeth Moss. “They are as much a response to the American abstract expressionist’s triumph over their European counterparts as they are a physical embodiment of the aboriginal landscape laid down against a backdrop of Western wisdom.”

Rankin, a New York-based Australian artist, is celebrated for his expressive and vibrant abstract works. His paintings are characterized by their quick, loose brushstrokes and calligraphies. Rankin’s artistic journey began during his formative years when he developed a profound interest in art and poetry from China, Japan, and India. He also developed a deep interest in Aboriginal culture.  Inspired by these influences, he aimed to merge Eastern art themes and styles with Western abstraction, resulting in a truly unique painting style.

Rankin’s evolution as a painter has been a fluid and ever-evolving process. In 1989, Rankin moved to New York, where he felt at home surrounded by the art and legacy of the Abstract Expressionists. Over the years, he has also ventured into expressionistic portraiture and created works reflecting on Jewish themes inspired by his wife, author Lily Brett, the child of Holocaust survivors.

The exhibition, “Earth and Light,” offers viewers a captivating exploration of Rankin’s artistic vocabulary and influences from the 1970s. His paintings transport audiences through breathtaking landscapes, where vibrant colors and rhythmic brushstrokes converge. Rankin’s keen responses to the movements and counter-movements within nature, as well as his unwavering attention to the demands of the human spirit, are beautifully portrayed in his artwork.

“Painting has given me the means to both engage with my deepest feelings and to interpret the world around me,” says Rankin.

Born in Plymouth, England, in 1946, Rankin migrated with his family to Australia at age 2. Since his first exhibition in Sydney in 1968, Rankin has held more than 100 solo exhibitions worldwide, including cities such as New York, Berlin, Beijing, Paris, Zurich, Vienna, and San Miguel de Allende (Mexico). In 2013, the great art critic and historian Dore Ashton updated her book about Rankin and re-titled it “David Rankin: The New York Years.”

In recognition of his contributions to the visual arts, Rankin was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the arts in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Moss Galleries has two locations: 100 Fore St., Portland, and 251 US-1, Falmouth. For more information, call 207-781-2620, email liz@elizabethmossgalleries.com, or visit www.elizabethmossgalleries.com.