Archive for the ‘Painting’ Category

Vedova Foundation, Palazzo Fortuny “Tra: Edge of Becoming”, Barry X Ball: Portraits and Masterpieces at Ca’ Rezzonico

Fondazione Emilio e Annabianca Vedova
Emilio Vedova who died in 2006 began artistic research in the 1930s when surrounded by the 17th century atmosphere of Venice. He was a major figure in the postwar art scene in the 1950s along with contemporaries Burri and Fontana and a leader in art informel movement. In 1997 he won [...]


Francois Pinault’s Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana

Aerial view of the Punta della Dogana

Overall, I have to say that I enjoyed the exhibition at the Palazzo Grassi over the Punta della Dogana which felt too similar to the show I saw there two years ago. At least the Palazzo Grassi exhibition felt newer and fresher to me. That being said, here are [...]


“Ileana Sonnabend: An Italian Portrait” at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum

Not only was Ileana Sonnabend a wonderful gallerist, but she was also an amazing collector in her own right. This exhibition includes works from her collection created by Italian artists and works by international artists that make reference to Italian culture. First married to Leo Castelli and later Michael Sonnabend, Ileana showed artists like Jasper [...]


Gallery Week in NYC

Things were abuzz in Chelsea last night. Whether it was at Jasper Johns opening at Matthew Marks or the pop up Harris Lieberman group painting show, people were out to take in the art and the much overdue spring weather.
I started at Harris Lieberman at their “temporary” location at 508 West 26th Street. Including well [...]


The Great Upheaval,1910-1918 at the Guggenheim

The show at the Guggenheim is arranged chronologically. The focus is a short eight year period when artists were in a race to see who could be the “most modern.” The artists in this show were looking to Cezanne, van Gogh, Gauguin and Rousseau as inspiration in their quest to move art forward and shatter [...]


Picasso and Marie Therese at Gagosian

I have to start this entry with a side bar. I was rudely turned away from the press preview for this show even though I clearly write about art for a living. I feel it is my duty to write about such an important show but I wish I could snub Gagosian the way they [...]


Subodh Gupta: A Glass of Water at Hauser and Wirth

Hearing an artist speak about his/her work always makes it so much more meaningful for me. So naturally I was thrilled to take part in an artist led tour of the exhibition of Gupta’s new work up through June 18th at Hauser and Wirth on the UES. The title of the show comes from a [...]


Chuck Webster Studio visit

On a rainy Saturday in April I made my way to Chuck Webster’s studio in Bushwick. I had first met Chuck a few years ago at Dieu Donne when he was completing a residency there.
Originally from Binghamton, NY, Chuck learned how to make paintings through copying and experimentation. Up until about 1995 he painted portraits [...]


Chelsea in the Spring: Gallery Shows to See

With the weather improving it is time to head to Chelsea for some gallery hopping. Here are some of my suggestions:
West 24th Street
David Altmejd currently has his third solo show at Andrea Rosen Gallery. Two Plexiglas sculptures fill the main gallery. One could spend hours trying to see every detail and attempt to figure out [...]


Rubin Museum of Art

There is a terrific little show at the Rubin Museum highlighting five artists working from the 1960s onward whose work has been influenced by Buddhism. Grain of Emptiness: Buddhism Inspired Contemporary Art showcases works by Charmion von Wiegand, Wolfgang Laib, Atta Kim, Theaster Gates and Sanford Biggers.
Von Wiegand, a friend of the painter Piet Mondrian, [...]