John Opera

Sun/Sky 09 2014/2026 On view in 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘳 (𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 1) at the Renaissance Society through June 7. @rensoc

Sun/Sky 07, 2014/2026 . on view in Palomar at the Renaissance Society . Grateful to be part of this group show and to see the work in dialogue with so many others. Thanks to everyone who came out for the opening, and especially to Karsten Lund for a thoughtful installation and curatorial talk. @kwlund @steven.l.bridges @rensoc

Works by John Opera will be on view at the Renaissance Society in Chicago as part of the group exhibition 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘳, opening tomorrow, Saturday, May 2nd from 4–7PM, with a curator talk at 4PM.⁠ ⁠ 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘳 is a group exhibition about watching the sky, something that is deceptively simple at first. It unfolds in two parts, featuring twenty-eight artists. As it reflects on different forms of observation in everyday life and in a scientific register, the exhibition gradually spills over into a sense of life that is more layered and complex. Part 1 introduces certain celestial rhythms and cycles, and it draws out experiences of time. Part 2 brings into view evolving relationships with technology and militarization of the skies. It turns out there is a lot at stake in the space above us. Visit the Ren's website for details on the exhibition's public program, which includes an exhibition walk-through, workshop, and performances.⁠ ⁠ 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘳 Part 1: May 2 – June 7, 2026⁠ 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘳 Part 2: June 10–July 12, 2026⁠ ⁠ John Opera, 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘌𝘺𝘦, 2025. Gum bichromate process on stretched canvas; 20 1/4 x 16 1/4 x 1 in.⁠ ⁠ @johnopera #johnopera @rensoc @kwlund #documentspace⁠

Sun Sky 13 2014/2026

Returning to some unfinished work from 2014, made using a telescopic camera obscura lens. Part of Palomar, a two-part group exhibition this summer at the Renaissance Society. The title references both an observatory on a California mountaintop and Italo Calvino’s Mr. Palomar—“a seeker of the cosmic in the everyday who shares his name with that place.” May 2–June 7 and June 10–July 12. @rensoc Sun/Sky 14 2014/2026 Cyanotype on linen 25 × 20 × 1 in.

This one and its companion are currently in Exhibit D at @documentspace in Lisbon. If you’re in town please check out the exhibition! Town of a Mirror, 2025 20 x 16 x 1 inches Gum bichromate and metallic pigment on stretched canvas

. . . Town Mirror, 2025 20 x 16 x 1 inches Gum bichromate and metallic pigment on stretched canvas

We are pleased to announce that John Opera, Solar Eye, 2024-2025 has entered the collection of the Burchfield Penney Art Center! Originally exhibited in Opera’s exhibition When the Sun is Done this January, the exhibition meditated on the threshold between visibility and vanishing, drawing inspiration from philosopher Jean-François Lyotard’s notion of “solar collapse”—the eventual dissolution of the sun’s energy and the cosmic shifts that follow. At the heart of the exhibition were montaged images of diffraction patterns, captured through custom-built photographic apparatus, shot on film, and printed using the gum bichromate process on canvas. This method imparts a painterly tactility and material presence to each image. These intricate visual fields, formed as light interacts with physical obstacles, suggest a universe in flux. Stop by to grab a copy of the exhibition catalogue, which features an essay by Nancy Weekly, leading authority on Charles E. Burchfield, and curator at the Burchfield Penney Art Center here in Buffalo, NY. Congratulations John! Images: John Opera, Solar Eye, 2024-2025, Gum bichromate process on stretched canvas, 20 1/4 x 16 1/4 x 1 inches. Portrait of John Opera, Rivalry Projects, Buffalo, NY. @johnopera @burchfieldpenney @documentspace

. Phosphenes II Gum bichromate process on stretched canvas 30 ¼ h x 24 ¼ w x 1d inches

. Last chance to see WHEN THE SUN IS DONE @rivalryprojects before it closes tomorrow at 5:00 PM. Huge thanks to Ryan and Olivia for the opportunity, @weeklyns for the wonderful essay, and to everyone who came out for the talk last night or stopped by to see the work. Appreciate you all! Pater Gum bichromate process on stretched canvas 14 ⅞ h x 11 ⅞ w x 1d inches

*️⃣ . 𝗨𝗻𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝘂𝗺 𝗯𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀 𝟮𝟬 ¼” × 𝟭𝟲 ¼” × 𝟭” 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗨𝗡 𝗜𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝘁 @rivalryprojects 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟴. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟲, 𝗮𝘁 𝟲:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 & 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵, 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆, 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿.

🌟 Ia-mă Cu Tine (Take Me With You) Gum bichromate and metallic pigments on stretched canvas 14 ⅞ h x 11 ⅞ w x 1d inches WHEN THE SUN IS DONE @rivalryprojects , through February 28. Artist talk & publication launch on Wednesday, February 26, 6:00PM. Gallery hours: Wed–Sat 11:00-5:00