Addressing fundamental struggles

“The Beast at Bay in the Garden of Appetites’’(ink on paper), by James Dye, in his show “The Void, the Wheel, and the Monster,” at the Fitchburg (Mass.) Art Museum, through Sept. 13.

The museum says:

“James Dye uses a painstaking and detailed ink drawing technique to create images of mysterious narratives. His idiosyncratic imaginary universe is deeply informed by symbols inspired by mythology, religion, psychology, and the history of art and architecture. Ultimately, Dye’s work tells stories – both personal and universal – about the terrors and wonders of the struggles between chaos and order, light and dark, and existence and oblivion.’’

Monarch of metroland

“Citadel of the Roach Queen” (dip pen and India ink), by Worcester-based James Dye, in the New England XI, a regional juried exhibition, at Galatea Fine Art, Boston, Aug. 6-29. Mr. Dye grew up in Holden, near Worcester.

Holden Center

'And alchemy'

Work by James Dye, in the show "Exploring the Myths of James Dye'' at the Worcester Art Museum, through Sept. 2.

"You couldn't have a culture without a story,'' he told the museum, which  presents "several of the literary themes that drive Dye's graphic fictions: creation stories, dystopias and alchemy. ... Dye creates elaborate and imaginative India ink drawings informed by common global narratives.''