Joel Mesler’s graphic paintings are immediately engaging, featuring lush flora, serpents, and short phrases that range from uplifting (“you deserve great things”) to quirky (“mama said knock you out”). His popular series include whimsical abecedariums—paintings of letters that, when assembled, form playful alphabets—often fetching six-figure prices. An MFA graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, Mesler spent nearly two decades as an art dealer in Los Angeles and New York City, supporting early careers of artists like Henry Taylor and Rashid Johnson. Throughout this time, he intermittently pursued his own painting. In 2017, Mesler relocated to Sag Harbor, where he runs Rental Gallery and continues to paint, drawing inspiration from pop culture, nature, and his personal journey through addiction.