Category Archives: Reviews

Alex Da Corte. "Big Brothers" | Foam, Fringe, Bleach, Andrew Gbur’s “Untitled”, Ratchet Strap, Sean Fitzgerald’s “16 Colors”, Leggings, Plastic Grapes, Broken Christmas Ornament | 2013

Dead Zone: Alex Da Corte at Nudashank

Technically speaking, Dead Zone (at Nudashank through March 17) is a group show curated by Philly-based artist Alex Da Corte. But this description isn’t really accurate. Rather than playing the role of curator, Da Corte is bringing in works by

Alex Da Corte. "Big Brothers" | Foam, Fringe, Bleach, Andrew Gbur’s “Untitled”, Ratchet Strap, Sean Fitzgerald’s “16 Colors”, Leggings, Plastic Grapes, Broken Christmas Ornament | 2013

Dead Zone: Alex Da Corte at Nudashank

Technically speaking, Dead Zone (at Nudashank through March 17) is a group show curated by Philly-based artist Alex Da Corte. But this description isn’t really accurate. Rather than playing the role of curator, Da Corte is bringing in works by

LISA RUYTER | Arthur Rothstein “Dry and parched earth in the badlands of South Dakota” | 2009, acrylic on canvas, 47 x 59 inches. Image courtesy of Connersmith

Chromatic Archive: Lisa Ruyter at Connersmith

There’s a seemingly direct line between Lisa Ruyter’s work and pop art. Like pop art, Ruyter’s paintings are guided by photography and mass media, her appropriation strategies a central crux of her compositions. But her artistic concerns are decidedly unwarholian. Rather than

LISA RUYTER | Arthur Rothstein “Dry and parched earth in the badlands of South Dakota” | 2009, acrylic on canvas, 47 x 59 inches. Image courtesy of Connersmith

Chromatic Archive: Lisa Ruyter at Connersmith

There’s a seemingly direct line between Lisa Ruyter’s work and pop art. Like pop art, Ruyter’s paintings are guided by photography and mass media, her appropriation strategies a central crux of her compositions. But her artistic concerns are decidedly unwarholian. Rather than

Brian Chippendale | The High Castle | 2011, screenprint collage on wood, 58”x48” (image courtesy of the artist and Arlington Arts Center)

From Print to Painting to Print: CTRL+P at Arlington Arts Center

Brian Chippendale came to prominence as a leading figure in the underground art and music scene that blossomed in Providence, RI during the 1990s. At the center of this creative explosion was Fort Thunder, an expansive live-work space co-founded by Chippendale

Brian Chippendale | The High Castle | 2011, screenprint collage on wood, 58”x48” (image courtesy of the artist and Arlington Arts Center)

From Print to Painting to Print: CTRL+P at Arlington Arts Center

Brian Chippendale came to prominence as a leading figure in the underground art and music scene that blossomed in Providence, RI during the 1990s. At the center of this creative explosion was Fort Thunder, an expansive live-work space co-founded by Chippendale

Ryan Carr Johnson and Samuel Dylan Scharf | Kline A.D. 2012. Paint on Plywood with bullet holes. 25" x 37" x 2.5"

Guns, Art, and a Project by Ryan Carr Johnson and Samuel Dylan Scharf

There’s a long history of guns in contemporary art, from Chris Burden’s Shoot to Sophie Calle’s ballistic treatment of her lover’s letter in Take Care of Yourself to a myriad points in between. And the connection between guns and painting

Ryan Carr Johnson and Samuel Dylan Scharf | Kline A.D. 2012. Paint on Plywood with bullet holes. 25" x 37" x 2.5"

Guns, Art, and a Project by Ryan Carr Johnson and Samuel Dylan Scharf

There’s a long history of guns in contemporary art, from Chris Burden’s Shoot to Sophie Calle’s ballistic treatment of her lover’s letter in Take Care of Yourself to a myriad points in between. And the connection between guns and painting

Installation view of Jack Henry and David Ostrowski at Nudashank

David Ostrowski and Jack Henry at Nudashank

This article was originally published in the New American Paintings blog in June of this year. This exhibition closed on July 8.

Installation view of Jack Henry and David Ostrowski at Nudashank

David Ostrowski and Jack Henry at Nudashank

This article was originally published in the New American Paintings blog in June of this year. This exhibition closed on July 8.

Gongasriikan mercenaries in the employ of the Frenglish Republic, 2012, Ink, acrylic, coffee, tea on paper, 43 1⁄2 x 30 1⁄4 inches (courtesy Heiner Contemporary and the artist)

Rehashing History: Frohawk Two Feathers at Heiner Contemporary

The work of Frohawk Two Feathers, pseudonym of Chicago-born and L.A.-based artist Umar Rashid, is steeped in folklore. For the better part of ten years the artist has visually explored narratives of colonialism through paintings and exhibitions that cumulatively function like chapters in an epic fantasy. I checked out his current show, “Every Winter Was A War,” She Said, at Heiner Contemporary.

Gongasriikan mercenaries in the employ of the Frenglish Republic, 2012, Ink, acrylic, coffee, tea on paper, 43 1⁄2 x 30 1⁄4 inches (courtesy Heiner Contemporary and the artist)

Rehashing History: Frohawk Two Feathers at Heiner Contemporary

The work of Frohawk Two Feathers, pseudonym of Chicago-born and L.A.-based artist Umar Rashid, is steeped in folklore. For the better part of ten years the artist has visually explored narratives of colonialism through paintings and exhibitions that cumulatively function like chapters in an epic fantasy. I checked out his current show, “Every Winter Was A War,” She Said, at Heiner Contemporary.

The Baltimore Contemporary Print Fair 2012, all photos by Matthew Smith

The Baltimore Contemporary Print Fair at BMA

Last weekend the Baltimore Museum of Art hosted its bi-annual print fair, bringing together a group of exciting printmakers for a small two-day event that featured an artist talk by Trenton Doyle Hancock. My thoughts on the fair, and lots of photos of the most exciting work, after the jump.

The Baltimore Contemporary Print Fair 2012, all photos by Matthew Smith

The Baltimore Contemporary Print Fair at BMA

Last weekend the Baltimore Museum of Art hosted its bi-annual print fair, bringing together a group of exciting printmakers for a small two-day event that featured an artist talk by Trenton Doyle Hancock. My thoughts on the fair, and lots of photos of the most exciting work, after the jump.

Tomokazu Matsuyama | Kirin (Black Stripe), 2009, acrylic on canvas. 48 x 48 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Painted Diplomacy: Tomokazu Matsuyama at AU

“Thousand Regards,” Japanese-American artist Tomokazu Matsuyama’s solo exhibition at American University (through May 20), is timed to coincide with the Cherry Blossom Festival but it’s miles away from the Mall.

Tomokazu Matsuyama | Kirin (Black Stripe), 2009, acrylic on canvas. 48 x 48 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Painted Diplomacy: Tomokazu Matsuyama at AU

“Thousand Regards,” Japanese-American artist Tomokazu Matsuyama’s solo exhibition at American University (through May 20), is timed to coincide with the Cherry Blossom Festival but it’s miles away from the Mall.

Tom Green | Of This World 3, 2011 acrylic on paper 29.75” x 22.25”, courtesy Curator’s Office

Of This World: Tom Green at Curator’s Office

This article was originally published in New American Paintings/blog | link “Time is of the essence now.” Most of us will never fully grasp the weight of Tom Green’s words when he spoke to the Washington Post last December. He’d been diagnosed with ALS

Tom Green | Of This World 3, 2011 acrylic on paper 29.75” x 22.25”, courtesy Curator’s Office

Of This World: Tom Green at Curator’s Office

This article was originally published in New American Paintings/blog | link “Time is of the essence now.” Most of us will never fully grasp the weight of Tom Green’s words when he spoke to the Washington Post last December. He’d been diagnosed with ALS

Dawn Black | American Gothic, 2011, Ink, gouache, watercolor on paper, 11” x 17” (courtesy Curator’s Office)

Masquerading Fiction: Dawn Black at Curator’s Office

In her second show at Curator’s Office, Dawn Black pulls characters from her ongoing Conceal Project, and offers a nuanced understanding of the power roles and cues that result from masquerade and from our propensity for playing dress up.

Dawn Black | American Gothic, 2011, Ink, gouache, watercolor on paper, 11” x 17” (courtesy Curator’s Office)

Masquerading Fiction: Dawn Black at Curator’s Office

In her second show at Curator’s Office, Dawn Black pulls characters from her ongoing Conceal Project, and offers a nuanced understanding of the power roles and cues that result from masquerade and from our propensity for playing dress up.

Ian Whitmore | The Bells Through the Leaves, 2008-2012, 16" x 16", oil on linen (courtesy G Fine Art)

Another Place and Time: Ian Whitmore at G Fine Art

This article was originally published in the New American Paintings blog | link It wasn’t long ago that Ian Whitmore was selling out multiple shows in Washington, D.C. before his paintings were even hung for opening night. It may have

Ian Whitmore | The Bells Through the Leaves, 2008-2012, 16" x 16", oil on linen (courtesy G Fine Art)

Another Place and Time: Ian Whitmore at G Fine Art

This article was originally published in the New American Paintings blog | link It wasn’t long ago that Ian Whitmore was selling out multiple shows in Washington, D.C. before his paintings were even hung for opening night. It may have

Gina beavers | 6-color palette, acrylic & paintbrush on canvas, 12” x 14”, 2011, (courtesy Nudashank and the artist)

Le Sigh: Gina Beavers at Nudashank

There’s no escaping the physicality of Gina Beavers’ paintings. Culled from the unremarkable — quotidian moments and bits of cultural flotsam — her work is grounded by the immediacy of her source material. Despite the occasional abstraction, these representations aren’t

Gina beavers | 6-color palette, acrylic & paintbrush on canvas, 12” x 14”, 2011, (courtesy Nudashank and the artist)

Le Sigh: Gina Beavers at Nudashank

There’s no escaping the physicality of Gina Beavers’ paintings. Culled from the unremarkable — quotidian moments and bits of cultural flotsam — her work is grounded by the immediacy of her source material. Despite the occasional abstraction, these representations aren’t

Edward Gero as Mark Rothko and Patrick Andrews as Ken in the 2011 Goodman Theatre production of Red. Directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Playing Rothko: the Seagram Murals on Arena Stage

This article was originally published in the New American Paintings blog | link If abstract painting is an inward journey seeking truth in the human condition, then perhaps Mark Rothko’s Seagram Murals are heralds for what we’ll find. Commissioned in 1958 for

Edward Gero as Mark Rothko and Patrick Andrews as Ken in the 2011 Goodman Theatre production of Red. Directed by Robert Falls. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Playing Rothko: the Seagram Murals on Arena Stage

This article was originally published in the New American Paintings blog | link If abstract painting is an inward journey seeking truth in the human condition, then perhaps Mark Rothko’s Seagram Murals are heralds for what we’ll find. Commissioned in 1958 for

Bochner | Die, 2005, oil and acrylic on canvas, 152.4 x 203.2 cm (60 x 80 in.), Courtesy Peter Freeman Inc., New York, © Mel Bochner 2011

A Colorful Language: Paintings by Mel Bochner at the National Gallery of Art

The Tower Gallery at The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. is currently exhibiting a collection of Bochner’s recent Thesaurus Paintings and preparatory drawings alongside his early and precursory text-based Portraits (1966-1968). With regard to Bochner’s recent work, NGA curator James Meyer observed of Bochner’s recent paintings, “a kind of American Realism has entered Conceptualism’s back door.”

Bochner | Die, 2005, oil and acrylic on canvas, 152.4 x 203.2 cm (60 x 80 in.), Courtesy Peter Freeman Inc., New York, © Mel Bochner 2011

A Colorful Language: Paintings by Mel Bochner at the National Gallery of Art

The Tower Gallery at The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. is currently exhibiting a collection of Bochner’s recent Thesaurus Paintings and preparatory drawings alongside his early and precursory text-based Portraits (1966-1968). With regard to Bochner’s recent work, NGA curator James Meyer observed of Bochner’s recent paintings, “a kind of American Realism has entered Conceptualism’s back door.”

DC Cheer!, an artist project led by Kristina Bilonick, greeted artists with encouragement as they arrived. Photo by E. Brady Robinson

Highlights from (e)merge: the Artists Platform

Unlike the gallery platform, two-dimensional works were a bit less common in the artist platform at (e)merge. It’s not surprising — in their call to artists the organizers expressed an interest in site-specific work that engaged with the idiosyncrasies of a hotel setting.

DC Cheer!, an artist project led by Kristina Bilonick, greeted artists with encouragement as they arrived. Photo by E. Brady Robinson

Highlights from (e)merge: the Artists Platform

Unlike the gallery platform, two-dimensional works were a bit less common in the artist platform at (e)merge. It’s not surprising — in their call to artists the organizers expressed an interest in site-specific work that engaged with the idiosyncrasies of a hotel setting.

Bathroom installation by Andy Moon Wilson, at Curator’s Office

Highlights from (e)merge: the Gallery Platform

(e)merge kicked off with a preview and poolside party on Thursday evening. Featuring two platforms, one for galleries and the other for unrepresented artists, the fair occupies the first three floors of the Capitol Skyline Hotel as well as the lower

Bathroom installation by Andy Moon Wilson, at Curator’s Office

Highlights from (e)merge: the Gallery Platform

(e)merge kicked off with a preview and poolside party on Thursday evening. Featuring two platforms, one for galleries and the other for unrepresented artists, the fair occupies the first three floors of the Capitol Skyline Hotel as well as the lower

Danube Series: There is No Rising or Setting Sun (Day), 2011, ink and spray paint on paper, 22″ x 30″   Image Courtesy of G Fine Art

Strokes and Stencils: Maggie Michael at G Fine Art

Gestural abstraction perseveres, and in Washington, D.C. few artists have been as attuned to its provisional potential as Maggie Michael (NAP #94). With There is No Rising or Setting Sun, Michael’s fourth solo show at G Fine Art, the artist has largely left the drips and splatters behind in

Danube Series: There is No Rising or Setting Sun (Day), 2011, ink and spray paint on paper, 22″ x 30″   Image Courtesy of G Fine Art

Strokes and Stencils: Maggie Michael at G Fine Art

Gestural abstraction perseveres, and in Washington, D.C. few artists have been as attuned to its provisional potential as Maggie Michael (NAP #94). With There is No Rising or Setting Sun, Michael’s fourth solo show at G Fine Art, the artist has largely left the drips and splatters behind in

Chris Martin

Size Matters: Chris Martin paints big at the Corcoran

It’s easy to see Chris Martin’s interest in outsider art. In fact, it’s often written directly onto his work. A close inspection of the collaged paintings in his monumental installation in the Corcoran Gallery’s atrium yields, among other things, a newspaper clipping noting the death

Chris Martin

Size Matters: Chris Martin paints big at the Corcoran

It’s easy to see Chris Martin’s interest in outsider art. In fact, it’s often written directly onto his work. A close inspection of the collaged paintings in his monumental installation in the Corcoran Gallery’s atrium yields, among other things, a newspaper clipping noting the death

Frank Stella, K.43 (lattice variation) protogen RPT (full-size), 2008 | Protogen RPT with stainless steel tubing, 144 x 176 x 116 inches. Courtesy of FreedmanArt. © 2011 Frank Stella / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo: Gregory R. Staley.

Material Crescendo: Frank Stella at the Phillips Collection

Frank Stella doesn’t play second fiddle, but for Wassily Kandinsky he’ll play second harpsichord. Well, sort of. Currently on display at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. is Stella Sounds: The Scarlatti K Series, a subset of the painterly sculptures the artist originally exhibited at Paul Kasmin

Frank Stella, K.43 (lattice variation) protogen RPT (full-size), 2008 | Protogen RPT with stainless steel tubing, 144 x 176 x 116 inches. Courtesy of FreedmanArt. © 2011 Frank Stella / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo: Gregory R. Staley.

Material Crescendo: Frank Stella at the Phillips Collection

Frank Stella doesn’t play second fiddle, but for Wassily Kandinsky he’ll play second harpsichord. Well, sort of. Currently on display at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. is Stella Sounds: The Scarlatti K Series, a subset of the painterly sculptures the artist originally exhibited at Paul Kasmin

Installation view of "The Shape of Things to Come"

The Shape of Things to Come

NUDASHANK’s progressive bent can make most local commercial galleries seem downright uncouth. Arguably the crown jewel of Baltimore’s thriving DIY artist-run spaces, NUDASHANK routinely showcases emerging artists that are on a firm upward trajectory, like Nick Van Woert, Matthew Craven, Alex Lukas, and Benjamin Edmiston. Currently

Installation view of "The Shape of Things to Come"

The Shape of Things to Come

NUDASHANK’s progressive bent can make most local commercial galleries seem downright uncouth. Arguably the crown jewel of Baltimore’s thriving DIY artist-run spaces, NUDASHANK routinely showcases emerging artists that are on a firm upward trajectory, like Nick Van Woert, Matthew Craven, Alex Lukas, and Benjamin Edmiston. Currently