Roger Allan Cleaves’ Night Cloud Songs (2020) is a richly textured and immersive work, measuring 39” x 54”. Constructed from denim, paint, raw canvas, and ink on paper, the piece pushes the boundaries of traditional painting, embracing a tactile, layered approach.

The composition feels both ethereal and grounded, as fragmented forms and gestural marks drift across the surface like verses of an unwritten song. Denim, a material deeply tied to labor and history, adds a physical and symbolic weight, contrasting with the fluidity of ink and paint. Earthy tones and deep blues evoke the night sky, while raw textures hint at memory, movement, and transformation.

A departure from Cleaves’ more figurative works, Night Cloud Songs carries a poetic sensibility, offering an open-ended narrative within his Forget Me Nots Land universe. The piece invites contemplation, resonating with themes of resilience, identity, and the passage of time.