Present Day Babylon
Amine Rastgar
Mar 7 - Apr 18, 2026
3714 J St Sacramento, CA
Gallery Statement
Present Day Babylon reflects Amine Rastgar’s ongoing belief that making art remains essential, even—especially—when the world feels unstable. Rather than retreating from the present moment, Rastgar approaches painting as a way to filter reality through his own lens, using color, imagination, and personal symbolism to respond to what’s happening around him.
The exhibition also considers art as a form of balance and release. Drawing from time spent cycling and mountain biking, Rastgar reflects on movement, nature, and the clarity found in stepping away—if only briefly—to regain perspective.
Together, the works in Present Day Babylon offer both commentary and escape, grounded in lived experience and driven by the simple act of moving forward.
Artist Bio
Amine Rastgar grew up in San Jose, California, and works fluidly between color and black-and-white, guided by an imaginative, experiment-forward approach. His process embraces risk and discovery, often allowing for trial, error, and excess along the way.
Influenced by an early background in graffiti, Rastgar’s work draws from 1990s nostalgia—8 balls, smiley faces, Air Jordans—colliding these references into layered compositions. His signature dog figures appear throughout the work as stand-ins for real life, placed within premeditated interiors or outdoor settings such as hikes and landscapes. The Bay Area, particularly its sports culture and teams, remains a constant source of inspiration.
Though classically trained and exposed to animation studies, Rastgar ultimately stepped away from formal education to pursue an independent, self-made artistic practice rooted in curiosity and intuition.
Opening Reception
Sat, Mar 7, 2026
6-9pm
On View
Mar 7 - Apr 18, 2026
Curator
Timeless Thrills
Exhibition LInks
Press Release
Catalog of Works (coming soon)
Installation Views (coming soon)
Press / Content
Studio Visit with Amine Rastgar (coming soon)
Opening Reception Photo Recap (coming soon)
Flyer
