Homely Little Figures

Kirk reflects contemporary life in the rich expressive character of his “homely little figures.” Some show the oblique touch of topical humor. Others rely on a biting satire and surrealistic absurdity. But in the best of these works there are suggestions of something deeper and more enigmatic than social commentary. Kirk’s concern is not just to observe human nature, but the underlying mystery of what the human animal has carried through centuries of evolution. The business suit only costumes the urgent, dynamic present. Against the landscape of the Fortune 500, Kirk saw not only shadows of Kafka but the fossilized human remains from prehistory.

“I see each suit sitting there as a bundle of conflicting emotions: man involved in the events of the day, being pushed and shoved, directed here and there, affected by various forces on a minute-by-minute basis.”
-Kirk Newman