NYC summer: a selection of group exhibitions

This summer there are numerous group shows in NY galleries featuring abstraction. The work on view spans several generations of artists with varied approaches to abstraction and painting. A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Paintings on Paper exhibition at David Zwirner, which you can read here. With so much to look at (and much already written about), what follows are a few highlights from several of these exhibits. 

Eccentric Abstraction /  Frosch & Portmann  click on gallery name to see more of the exhibit

Curated by Bill Weiss, this gem of a show includes work by David Hayward, Leslie Wayne, Mamie Holst, Richard Allen Morris and Bill Weiss.  This exhibit is up through August 3. I was particularly struck by the rich physicality of the paintings by three of the artists. 

The work of Leslie Wayne and Richard Allen Morris blur the distinctions between painting and sculpture.

LESLIE WAYNE   Paint/Rag #4, 2014  oil on panel  16 x 12 x 4

close up view:  LESLIE WAYNE  One Big Love #26, 2009   oil on panel  11-1/2 x 13-1/4 x 2

RICHARD ALLEN MORRIS  (left to right)  History, 2010, Venus, 2010, Point of View, 2010   acrylic & patch & paint on canvas    10 x 8"

close up view:  RICHARD ALLEN MORRIS   Point of View, 2010   acrylic & patch & paint on canvas   10 x 8"

Douglas Florian often works on found plywood and subjects the painted surface to additional gouging, imbuing a sense of history to his paintings.

DOUGLAS FLORIAN   Bloomsday Way, 2011-2012   31 x 18 3/4   oil on wood

close up view of Bloomsday Way

 
Starting Out: 9 Abstract Painters 1958 - 1971 /   Tibor de Nagy   click on gallery name to see more of the exhibit
These exhibit  (up through August 1) includes work of nine artists who were considered part of the second-generation of NY abstract painters.  You can read a fine review of the exhibit by Marcia Yerman by clicking here. 

Surprisingly, the first painting you see upon entering the gallery is the work of Jane Freilicher, who moved on to landscape and representational work. 

 

JANE FREILICHER   Untitled Abstraction c. 1960    49 x 50"   oil on canvas

 I was also drawn to the paintings by Edward Avedisian and Paul Feeley.

EDWARD AVEDISIAN   Normal Love #1, 1963    67-1/4 x 67-1/2"    liquitex on canvas

PAUL FEELEY    Trajan, 1960    69 x 46"   oil-based enamel on canvas

Summer Invitational /  Elizabeth Harris     click on gallery name to see more of the exhibit
The 2014 summer invitation featured work by Rich Klauber, Joanne Mattera, Paul Mogensen, Gary Peter, and Sarah Walker.  Color, geometry, and layered space each had a place in this exhibit.

JOANNE MATTERA   Chromatic Geometry 21, 2014    12 x 12"   encaustic on panel

RICK KLAUBER, Editor, 2013    46 x 16"  acrylic on cedar shims

 Color as Structure /  McKenzie Fine Art    click on gallery name to see more of the exhibit
This splendid exhibit (up through August 1) features work by 16 artists.  The gallery press release details the theme: "Color as Structure" examines the ways artists use deliberate color choices to create sculptural or architectonic space in their work as well as exploring aspects of weight, movement, rhythm, light and optical vibration." 

Below are several of the standout pieces that fit that description beautifully.

DEBORAH ZLOTSKY   Indoor Voice, 2013   20 x 16"  oil on canvas

MARTHA CLIPPINGER  Converge, 2012   17 x 10-1/2 x 2"   acrylic and oil on wood

ELISE FERGUSON   NW, bold, 2014   24 x 24"   pigmented plaster on mdf