Portland based artist Zach Johnsen is busy preparing for his upcoming exhibition entitled The House of Uncommons. The body of work created for the show explores an alternate parliamentary governing system comprised of spirit figures existing outside the periphery of mankind. Each painting depicts a figure within this fantasy system of rules with its own unique title, identity and powers of legislation. Johnsen’s dynamic paintings have pretty much always been executed on paper, but his new work for the exhibition is comprised entirely of paintings on wooden panels. He toned much of the work using smoke bombs as you can see in the vimeo link below of Zach in action on his studio rooftop.

The House of Uncommons opens Aug 1, 2013 at Hellion Gallery in Portland, Oregon. Check out these pictures of Zach at work in the studio courtesy of Adam Amengual and also some preview images below.