Foreign & Domestic

“I hereby declare that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” – Oath of Allegiance.

Alex Meurice is an American who grew up in France and Germany. The Foreign & Domestic founder only recently relocated from London, landing in NYC to open the gallery. The name relates to his personal feeling of “otherness”. He could think of nowhere more fitting than the LES. With its rich immigrant history, on its best days the LES — much like America — stands for hope.

The gallery is at basement-level, giving it a bunker-like feel. Keen-eyed viewers might notice there’s a small mirrored bagua over the entrance. A touch of Feng Shui to ward off negative energy. It can be chaotic on the streets of the Lower East Side, and anyone who feels a little swallowed up in it might just find the solace they’re looking for in here.

It’s not just the space that’s transformational. The work of the artists you’ll see here tends towards the process of ‘becoming’.

Alex Meurice tells us, “I’m interested in art that’s an accumulation of intentional acts.” And by that he means artists for whom process is incredibly important.

There’s a vibe of deliberation and purpose in the marks, stroke or drip here. An inflection point, be it a drawing, painting, or sculpture. This is art that happens step by step. The result is greater than the sum of its parts: quiet, but transformational. Simple but powerful.

But hold on. What is freedom anyway? What exactly is it we are protecting? To live life authentically. To make the art you want. Simplicity doesn’t have to be a big political statement. Simplicity, in fact, might be the most anti-establishment ethos of all these days.

There’s a tangible feeling of pride in this gallery. The pride of being an artist, and the freedom to make choices. After all, what is making art about if not creating a better life in peace? If that’s not worth standing up and swearing an oath for, we don’t know what is.