Nick Knowlton reviews the exhibition Greg Gong, Jon Pestoni at Shane Campbell Gallery, Chicago, on view through August 16, 2014.

Knowlton writes: "Against a current climate of glossily reflective paintings with meticulous edges, Gong and Pestoni present a roundabout, rougher route to creating a seductive surface. Though carefully arranged, marks upon former marks invite immersed contemplation in the variations of Pestoni’s earthy matteness and Gong’s swirling struggle. In both cases there is a frank disclosure of time and method that emphasizes painting as a deliberate, ruminative process relatable to life in a world where wit and sheen are on trend."