John Carstens (b. 1967) is an autodidactic having worked in graphic design, architecture, and computer programming.

Carstens’ work embraces indirect realism — a belief that reality is not directly observed, but rather inferred from the mind’s interpretation of sensory experiences. Perception versus reality. Truth versus belief.

As a Neo-Divisionist, Carstens encodes figuration into the notion of abstraction. Undulating blob sizes and densities simulate tones optically. Up-close, shapes are ambiguous and atomic with no foothold for cognitive bias. From afar these abstract patterns coalesce into representation. A paradox of generalization and precision. Subjective reality manifesting.