Where: Ro2 Art Gallery
2606 Bataan St.
Dallas, TX 75212
When: May 24, 2025 – June 28, 2025
OPENING RECEPTION: 24 May, 2025 from 7-10pm
(Dallas) Ro2 Art is proud to present an exhibition by artist Brantly Sheffield. The exhibition will open May 24, 2025 and remain on view through June 28, at Ro2 Art Gallery, located at 2606 Bataan St., Dallas, TX, with an opening reception to be held May 24, from 7-10 pm.
With MetaFORE, Brantly Sheffield delivers a sharp and playful critique of privilege, consumption, and the art world’s uneasy parallels with elite pastimes like golf. With his signature blend of wit, emotional depth, and expressive form, Sheffield reimagines the golf course as a metaphor for the art world—lush, absurd, and quietly corrosive. Through richly textured paintings that straddle satire and sincerity, MetaFORE invites viewers to reflect on the fragile position of the artist within a system that commodifies culture, all while basking in the humor and contradictions that make such a critique possible.
About The Artist
Brantly Sheffield (b. 1991, Edmond, OK) is a Dallas-based artist whose paintings and drawings explore the complexities of identity, relationships, and the emotional landscapes that define human experience. With a BFA in Illustration from the Kansas City Art Institute (2014) and an MFA in Painting from Boston University (2017), Sheffield has cultivated a distinctive style that merges the intimate with the universal. His work often combines exaggerated and distorted figures that act as metaphors for the fluid and contradictory nature of identity.
Through bold use of color, form, and texture, Sheffield’s compositions reflect the interplay between how we are seen, how we want to be understood, and the world around us. His subjects are rendered in ways that push the boundaries of representation, creating visual cues that ground his figures in their surroundings while also expressing the absurdity of reality itself. His work is a personal exploration of intimacy, transformation, and belonging, where each piece acts as both a reflection of his own life and human condition.
Sheffield has shown his work in national and international juried and curated exhibitions, with solo shows such as Bricks and Mortar (2015) at The Late Show Art Gallery in Kansas City and It Was a Good Time (2023) at RO2 Art in Dallas. He was an artist-in-residence at the Cedars Union in Dallas (2020-2021). His work is currently represented by RO2 Art Gallery.
Originally from Edmond, Oklahoma, Sheffield discovered his passion for art in high school, and after graduating, he moved to Kansas City in 2010 to attend the Kansas City Art Institute. His journey continued with an enriching experience studying fresco painting and art history in Florence, Italy, before moving to Boston for graduate school. Sheffield currently lives in Dallas, Texas, with his boyfriend and creates work that challenges notions of self, identity, and the world we inhabit.
Artist Statement
My work is a deeply personal exploration of the relationships and narratives that shape my life. I make paintings and drawings that merge the intimate with the universal, using the tension between drawing’s intimacy and painting’s depth to capture the complexities of human experience. Each composition explores not only the likenesses of the people in my life but the emotional landscapes that define them—often infused with a sense of humor that mirrors the absurdity of reality itself.
The figures in my work are exaggerated and distorted, acting as metaphors for the contradictions and fluidities of both personal identity and the world around me—one that is often shaped by negotiation, transformation, and the play between different selves. There is constant interplay between who we are, how we are seen, and how we want to be understood.
Nature, life drawing, and a rich vernacular of color, shapes, forms, and textures interweave throughout my compositions, creating patterns that reflect both my subjects and the world they inhabit. Vivid elements often act as visual cues, grounding my figures in their surroundings while pushing against the boundaries of representation.
They are integral to the way I see the world, a world where identity is never fixed but instead fluid, layered, and constantly shifting.
My paintings and drawings are an exploration of my identity, the relationships I navigate, and the ways in which these intersect with nature and human connection. Each piece is a part of my life, but it is also a larger reflection on the complexities of identity, intimacy, and belonging.
Show Statement
MetaFORE draws a cheeky parallel between two elite worlds: contemporary art and golf. This exhibition takes a swing at the highbrow dynamics of gallery and museum spaces, alongside the country club and golf course—both serving as exclusive sanctuaries for the privileged few. It exposes the not-so-glamorous behind-the-scenes of consumer buy-ins—whether through purchasing overpriced art or splurging on a country club membership—and how both art and golf quietly ravage their surroundings without anyone batting an eye.
Here, artists become the geese, and their art becomes shit, with the golf course serving as the ultimate “natural” habitat. The exclusivity of these spaces creates an illusion of ownership, not just over culture, but over the land itself. As art turns into a commodity and golf courses guzzle environmental resources, this exhibition humorously interrogates the balance between luxury and ecological responsibility.
MetaFORE is a caustic commentary on the intersections of commerce, nature, and elitism, offering a wink and a nod to the absurdity of it all. Through a self-deprecating lens, it also reminds us that artists are the lifeblood of these spaces—but these spaces change on a dime, often to the detriment of the very creators who help sustain them. By highlighting the art world’s commodification of artists and the environmental toll of nine-hole indulgence, this installation challenges us to reconsider our participation in these exclusive realms while offering a sympathetic view of the artist’s precarious position within them.
Ultimately, MetaFORE prompts its audience to reflect on the privilege embedded in both art and golf, acknowledging their humor, absurdity, and ecological irresponsibility. The artist, like the goose, is often an overlooked contributor to these spaces—yet they continue to nourish, transform, and sometimes get shit on in the process.
The Ro2 Art Mission
Ro2 Art is committed to working with artists who push the boundaries of contemporary art, artists whose work has the potential to shape the future of the art world. Rooted in Dallas, we focus on elevating the exceptional talent within our region and beyond, showcasing work that is bold, thought-provoking, and deserving of serious attention from collectors and institutions alike.
Since 2010, Ro2 Art has built a reputation for curating exhibitions that engage both the mind and the senses, presenting art that challenges conventional expectations. We proudly represent emerging and established artists who are unafraid to take risks and remain steadfast in their vision, offering work that is as enduring as it is impactful. Authenticity and artistic integrity guide everything we do, ensuring that each exhibition resonates on a deeper level.
Our dedication to supporting artists in Dallas and beyond is not simply a nod to the local community; it is a recognition of the outstanding work being produced here, that stands to be part of a global conversation. Ro2 Art is more than a gallery; it is a space where discovery happens, where the next great voice in contemporary art may be found, and where every exhibition offers the chance to experience something truly different.
About Ro2 Art
Ro2 Art is a contemporary fine art gallery located in Dallas’s Tin District, co-founded in 2010 by Susan Roth Romans and Jordan Roth. The gallery represents a diverse roster of emerging, mid-career, and established artists working across painting, sculpture, installation, and new media, with a focus on work that challenges artistic norms and engages bold ideas. Ro2 Art has been twice named ‘Best Art Gallery’ by the Dallas Observer and received the Small Business Award from the North Texas Business Council for the Arts for its contributions to the regional arts community. Through thoughtfully curated exhibitions and an active presence at art fairs including the Dallas Art Fair, Art Aspen, and Texas Contemporary, Ro2 Art continues to build meaningful connections between artists, collectors, and institutions. More info: www.ro2art.com
All works will be on view May 24 through June 28, 2025. For more information, visit www.ro2art.com, or call Jordan Roth at 214.406.8819
