Joel Mesler’s graphic paintings are instantly accessible, combining verdant flora, snakes, and short phrases that are sometimes feel-good (“you deserve great things”) and sometimes off-kilter (“mama said knock you out”). Popular series include his paintings of letters that, when gathered together, form a zany abecedarium —and which sell for six-figure sums. An MFA graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, Mesler worked for almost two decades as an art dealer in Los Angeles and New York City. He painted on and off while promoting artists like Henry Taylor and Rashid Johnson early in their careers. In 2017, Mesler moved to Sag Harbor, where he owns Rental Gallery and continues to paint, influenced by pop culture and nature as well as his own history of addiction.