Figure/Ground

DeGraaf’s studio practice is deeply informed by the Gestalt principles of perception, particularly the relationship between figure and ground. Rather than presenting a stable or singular image, his compositions invite viewers to move between what is seen immediately and what slowly emerges through closer observation. Figures and forms are first constructed through recognizable visual structures, then gradually deconstructed through overlapping shapes, interruptions, and spatial ambiguity. This push and pull across the picture plane challenges the eye to continuously reorganize the image, creating moments where foreground and background compete, merge, or dissolve into one another. In doing so, the work mirrors the way perception itself functions – constantly searching for meaning, connection, and wholeness within fragmented experiences.