Uptain’s paintings explore the competing ideologies that create, circulate, and display images in times of conflict. Through his use of multiple perspectives (a war photographer’s lens, a military spy plane, a videogame screenshot, a cell phone photo), Uptain questions the unseen forces that shape public opinion, seeks ways to better understand our historical moment, and explores more authentic ways to bear witness to each other's experiences.

A former public affairs specialist for the Army National Guard, Uptain’s interest in photojournalism began during my training from 2019-2020 at the Defense Information School.

“We were taught to frame each narrative around command-approved talking points, control the backgrounds of photos so as not to reveal government secrets, and edit out the faces of special government operatives,” said Uptain. “This fueled my fascination with the methods special interest groups, like the military, use to manipulate public discourse and deceive their audiences.”  

Being privy to methods the military uses to construct public opinion and shape foreign policy motivates Uptain to examine images of war more closely.

Through the paintings in this exhibit, Uptain explores images of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the impact they could have on its participants and spectators.

The exhibit offers a unique artistic experience and seeks to start a conversation about the war in Ukraine and how we narrate our role as spectators to that conflict. 20% of all sales will be donated to United24, a global digital initiative founded by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to raise funds and support Ukraine amid the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Join us at Scarlow’s Gallery in downtown Casper from February 6th to March 8th for a thought-provoking and visually stunning exhibit by Roy Uptain. A reception and artist talk will be held at 2:00 PM on February 25th for those interested in learning more about the artist, his process, and this series of paintings.