JAKE MESSING 

MIDAS TOUCH 

solo exhibition

May 24th - June 15th, 2025

Opening Reception: First Friday, June 6th, 2025 ​

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When does the pursuit of perfection become a form of self-erasure? That longing to ‘have it all’ can be so powerful, so blinding, we miss how much we already have. Jake Messing explores this sort of destructive longing in MIDAS TOUCH, eight gorgeously opulent yet deeply ominous paintings in which the ‘betterment’ of nature gives way to darkness, danger and fear. 

 

Messing states, “The inspiration for this series emerged after my first encounter with anxiety and depression—a period when I found myself grappling with a disorienting loss of control over my own thoughts. It was a frightening and unfamiliar experience, one that left me searching for ways to process and understand what I was going through.

 

“Around that same time, I read the Greek myth of King Midas to my children. The story of a man granted the power to turn everything he touched into gold—only to realize it was more of a curse than a gift—struck a chord with me in an unexpected way. The image of wealth, beauty, and grandeur masking an underlying tragedy felt deeply symbolic of my own emotional state. I began to see parallels between Midas’ illusion of prosperity and the way anxiety and depression often operate—how something can appear gilded and desirable on the surface while concealing a much harsher reality underneath.”

 

Messing brilliantly captures this duality, as always, with remarkable realism and a beautiful application of paint. His layered and varying brush strokes create a dance of depth and texture within the details. Convincing metallics, clean and reflective, with gilded leaves and flowers engulfed in flames; these surreal and seductive forms, along with Messing’s inspired technical skill, add such emotional depth without being prescriptive. They invite contemplation, self-reflection, and an opportunity to cherish intensity and beauty. 

 

Jake Messing (American, b. 1982) is based in Healdsburg, California. He graduated from Parsons in NYC in 2006 with a degree in Illustration and went on to manage the art department for Tiffany’s Global. Messing continues to provide creative consultation for luxury brands and has created several incredible murals across the country. MIDAS TOUCH is Messing’s third solo feature with Arch Enemy Arts, and he began showing with the gallery in 2018.

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MIDAS TOUCH will be on view from May 24th - June 15th, 2025
Sold works will begin to ship the week starting June 22nd, unless other rush shipping arrangements have been made. 

Items marked with a red dot have already been sold.

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