Beez and Honey

Post Frieze Antidote: The Frick Collection

2013-05-19T11:51:00.002-04:00

After the contemporary art overload at the fairs, galleries and auction houses the last couple weeks, it was a bit of fresh air to enjoy the Frick Collection's small but important Piero della Francesca exhibition.

More images

Piero della Francesca

Artist

Piero della Francesca was a painter of the Early Renaissance. As testified by Giorgio Vasari in his Lives of the Artists, to contemporaries he was also known as a mathematician and geometer. Wikipedia

Born: 1415, Umbria

Died: October 12, 1492, Sansepolcro

Period: Italian Renaissance

Artwork

Flagellation of Christ

1460

The History of the True Cross

1466

The Resurrection

1465

The Baptism of Christ

1450

Madonna del Parto 1457

The Frick Collection in it's own right, filled with gems by Veronese, Boucher, Vermeer, Lucas Cranach the Elder, El Greco and many other Old Masters, is valuable. As a balance, or measuring stick for the contemporary art world, it is priceless.

The cute room filled with Boucher's paintings of flirtatious, happy, voluptuous, sensual characters in an abundant outdoor and indoor landscape may have been frowned upon in his time, but now give us a warm feeling when we look at them. The provenance alone tells us how important a work of art this is, originating as it did from the Marquise de Pompadour in the 18th Century.

François Boucher (1703 - 1770)
The Four Seasons: Autumn, 1755
oil on canvas
22 1/4 x 28 3/4 in. (56.5 x 73 cm)
Henry Clay Frick Bequest
Accession number: 1916.1.14

Currently on View
West Vestibule (144)
Link to floorplan and Virtual Tour

Collections: Marquise de Pompadour. Inherited by her brother, the Marquis de Marigny et de Ménars, in 1764. His sale, February, 1782, Paris, Lot 11, sold for 1,402 livres to Vernier. Nicolas Beaujon, Paris. His sale, April 25, 1787, Paris, Lot 202, sold for 884 livres to Ridgway. Madame Ridgway sale, December 3, 1904, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, Lots 4, 5, 6, 7, sold for 360,000 francs to Eugène Fischhof. E.R. Bacon, New York. Mrs. Virginia Bacon. Duveen. Frick, 1916.

Source: Paintings in The Frick Collection: French, Italian and Spanish. Volume II. New York: The Frick Collection, 1968.

Vermeer's "Girl Interrupted at Her Music" and "Officer and Laughing Girl"are two masterworks the likes of which any museum or collector worth its salt would like to get their hands on.

Johannes Vermeer (1632 - 1675)
Officer and Laughing Girl, c. 1657
oil on canvas (lined)
19 7/8 x 18 1/8 in. (50.5 x 46 cm)
Henry Clay Frick Bequest
Accession number: 1911.1.127

Currently on View
South Hall (141)

Veronese's towering monumental paintings, "Hercules Choice/The Choice Between Virtue and Vice" and "Wisdom and Strength", again remind us of the great trends throughout Western art history that have shaped our sensibilities and what we currently value. The Greco/Roman columns, the theatrical setting, the drapery, the twisting winding figures and the view behind them into the far distance, even the title of the work, gives us an idea of the perspective and some of the concerns with which artists at that time were dealing.

Paolo Veronese (c. 1528 - 1588)
Wisdom and Strength, c.1580
oil on canvas
84 1/2 x 65 3/4 in. (214.6 x 167 cm)
Henry Clay Frick Bequest
Accession number: 1912.1.128

Currently on View
West Gallery (131)

It would be great if our contemporary artists could look to art history to inform their work instead of looking to other contemporary work to do so. A new art friend said this about a certain art review in the NY Times that gave a smidgen of credit to the current Koons exhibition at Zwirner: "...Anyone who really thinks any of these sculptures are actually important or remotely approaching great art is too steeped in the contemporary world to distinguish between ubiquitous work and good work."

A Week of Art Fairs and Exhibition Openings and Now, Oh Now, The Auctions...

2013-05-15T12:48:00.000-04:00

It always amuses me to see things on auction at Sotheby's and Christie's at the very same time that an exhibition of an artist is up in a gallery. Take for instance, the large Cecily Browns at the above mentioned auction houses that correlate to the exhibition uptown at Gagosian. Or Sterling Ruby, showing uptown too at the 980 Madison Avenue building by Joseph Nahmad Contemporary. Like my friend said by text message, "If you are trying to say that (dealers) manipulate markets I would find that hard to believe". (BIG WINK;) Then his following message: "...And interested parties have been doing it since Lascaux." I must admit I had to go way back in my art history knowledge to remember who (or more appropriately WHAT) Lascaux was.

My up to the minute art news with the one and only...Kenny Schachter via FB

CECILY BROWN
Blood Thicker Than Mud, 2012
Oil on linen
109 x 171 inches (276.9 x 434.3 cm)

Then there was Frieze. I guess if you like to buy art there was stuff to see and buy. I loved Marian Goodman Gallery for her presentation of Tino Seghal's perfomance; a monologue by a real girl who acted the part of an ethereal cyber girl. No art here for sale, but lots of art to see.

Art at Marian Goodman Gallery, not Art for Sale

Luhring Augustine's booth with the work of Tom Friedman reminded me that the bigger the gallery doesn't necessarily mean the happier the artist, as Friedman moved from Gagosian and seems to be happy where he is now. His work is as varied and intriguing as ever.

Strange that nobody seemed to be showing Damien Hirst, except for Jay Joplin at White Cube. And then of course there was Koons Koons Koons, out of the fair even more than in it; more common than ever with his blue spheres on copies of classical sculpture, but I liked the snowman at Zwirner. And I did like his interpretation of the Venus of Willendorf at Gagosian 24th Street.

Installing the Snowman at Zwirner

Polo Party outside Hamburg @ Gut Basthorst

2013-05-06T12:13:00.000-04:00

We (remains anonymous) were invited for the weekend to a polo party outside Hamburg at Eno's Gut Basthorst estate. It was loads of fun with old art, old cars, old guns, and young friends :)

Violin playing and singing after dinner on Friday :)

Exiting Polo Match via 1959 Bentley convertible :)

Well dressed twins at polo

1969 Alfa Romeo Convertible with NYC Girls

Going off to the park to the see the wild animals, though doesn't seem we had to go far!

Girl with Gun (Blowdryer)

Me at the small lake at the cottage in the park

Girl with Gun 1889 Smith & Weston, pure silver revolver. Anti-gun campaign poster?

Vintage Harley Davidson. Love everything vintage!!!

The Kin: Growing Better Every Year

2013-04-29T14:15:00.000-04:00

I've known these two brothers who make up The Kin for a long time; not since they were born, but since Thorry taught me to play the basics of the guitar and since Isaac's mum (Thorry's too of course) Madeleine, did my tarot cards back in the day when I would come over to her apartment in Soho, and had discovered (to my wonder) that my guitar's teacher's mum was the hot blonde woman who I had seen for years around the neighborhood.

The Kin is a partners-in-crime collaboration between Aussie brothers, Thorald and Isaac Koren, and New York drummer Shakerleg.

Well when you know the mum you understand how these sweet young men have a steely core, which reflects itself in great music, both lyrically and melodically. You just have to go hear them, next time they're playing in a town near you!

Rock of Ages: The Musical That Keeps You Wanting More

2013-04-08T16:30:00.001-04:00

I was prepared to be bored by this 80s California musical but within 5 minutes I was enraptured. What was indeed 80s was also so cool, so well written, directed and choreographed, by actors that were cute and engaging. I had to give them the standing ovation they deserved at the end. A little like Grease, but one decade later, you have to go see http://www.rockofagesmusical.com/

studio MDA: Markus Doschantschi and Co. Design a School in the Congo for Girls

2013-04-01T14:46:00.000-04:00

My friend Markus Doschantschi, founder of studio MDA http://studiomda.com/ , designed this girls' school in the Congo pro bono!

Here's a link to the George Malaika Foundation website where you can donate to support education in Africa.
http://www.gmfafrica.org/

Haiti Contemporary Artists Showcase

2013-03-22T19:03:00.000-04:00

Raynald Leconte mounted a stellar pop up exhibition on 2nd Avenue near 60th Street with some of Haiti's best artists: Mario Benjamin, Prefete Duffaut, Frantz Zephirin, Sebastien Jean, Dubreus Lherisson, David Boyer, Mirlande Constant, a series of Voodoo flags by Georges Valris, Yves Thelemaque, Onel, Edy Jacques, Killy and Cheby. Head of the Haitian Cultural Foundation (raynald@haitianculturalfoundation.org) Raynald is a fount of information about Haiti and Haitian art in general.

This exhibition was the diamond among a lot of stones during the Armory. Here we had a range of work that was full of surprise, delight and spirituality. If only we could have more pop ups that are full with energy like this exhibition, not beaten down by the market and boring as are most of what we see in commercial galleries and art fairs these days.

Consider this one artist, Frantz Zephirin, to understand the range of work that was on view (and still can be seen through private viewings arranged by Leconte).

Frantz Zephirin

In addition to paintings, there were flags, assemblage, collage and sculpture. Look at this video, narrated by the musician Annie Lennox, to get an idea of what you missed, and what you can still experience if you get in touch with Raynald Leconte at the email address above.

IN THE EYE OF THE SPIRAL Trailer from In the Eye of the Spiral on Vimeo.

Gravey Daham: So Glad he is my friend

2013-03-18T00:00:00.001-04:00

Listen to the new tracks that are coming out of the man who I once described as the Nabokov of music lyric writing. With a raw freshness that smells better than teen spirit, I think we all have something to look forward to in the art of this still revealing himself genius.
https://soundcloud.com/gravey-daham
Gravey Daham, the Artist's working name, is a play on that of folk guitar extraordinaire Davey Graham.
The line drawings that accompany the songs are in and of themselves an exhibition waiting to happen:

Images Courtesy of the Artist Gregory Mirzayantz

Y'All Put It Together, a new film series at the Gene Frankel Theater

2013-03-13T10:19:00.001-04:00

Beez And Honey, Poppington & Only Popcorn present “Y’All Put It Together”, a new series of films and discussions at Gene Frankel Theater. The series unspools with a screening of the urban drama “Paid In Full,” on Tuesday, March 26th at 7:00pm followed by a Q&A with Producer Damon Dash. Doors open at 6:00pm.

“Paid in Full” marks the feature debut of director Charles Stone III, who rose to fame after creating Budweiser's "Wassup" commercials. The urban gangster drama is loosely based on the true story of 1980s Harlem drug kingpins AZ, Rich Porter, and Alpo. (This story was also the basis for a documentary, Game Over (Part 1).) Ace (Wood Harris) works at a laundromat, struggling to get by, while his friend Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) lives the high life selling heroin. His sister's boyfriend, Calvin (Kevin Carroll) also sells drugs, and looks down on Ace for struggling to earn a living. Out delivering laundry one day, Ace meets Lulu (Esai Morales), a big time coke dealer, who lives better than anyone Ace has ever known. When Lulu leaves some coke in the pocket of a coat he's having cleaned, Ace returns it to him, and Lulu rewards him for his honesty by letting him keep the drugs. When Calvin gets busted, Ace hesitantly takes his place in the neighborhood, and starts working for Lulu. As the crack business takes off, Ace finds himself making more money than he knows what to do with. Mitch goes to jail for a short time, where another inmate, Rico (rapper Cam'ron in his acting debut), defends him in a fight. By the time Mitch gets out of prison, Ace is running the neighborhood. Ace makes Mitch his right-hand man, and when Rico gets out of jail, he joins the crew. The drugs and money flow, and Ace tries to keep everyone happy, but there are some who want what's his, and will stop at nothing to get it. “Paid in Full” was shown at the 2002 Urbanworld Film Festival.

Beverages will be served and attendees can view a screening of the Art Film, “The Art of Nothing,” directed by Derrick B. Harden. “Y’ALL PUT IT TOGETHER” is a series of films curated by Gail Thacker, Nicollette Ramirez and Derrick B. Harden. Additional titles in the film series will be announced.

Tickets are available at the Gene Frankel Theater Box Office, located at 24 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012, (212) 777-1767 or genefrankeltheatre@gmail.com and will be $20 at the door. For press inquiries onlypopcorninfo@gmail.com or info@beezandhoney.com

Maria Kreyn: A Contemporary Classicist

2013-03-08T10:47:00.004-05:00

The artist in her studio

Maria's paintings have the weight of art history behind them, both in style and content, but with the 21st Century awareness of multiple dimensionality, and of the spirit, the aura, being visible to those who have the eyes to see it.

The artist with Derrick B Harden at the exhibition "Incarnations"

Go see her work in this group exhibition "Incarnations" at the Highline Loft.

www.mariakreyn.com
Go see her in Chelsea

@The Highline Loft

508 W 26th st. 5th floor

the show will run from March 7-11, gallery hours 12-6pm

Thomas Mulcaire: From Antarctica to the Sun and Back Again

2013-02-27T11:53:00.003-05:00

Please make a pledge to our upcoming exhibition featuring work from the last twenty years of this uniquely talented South African artist.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/107906494/from-antarctica-to-the-sun-and-back-again-thomas-m?ref=email

Alberto Di Fabio: An Italian in London

2013-02-22T11:58:00.000-05:00

As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words. So here you have several thousand words about one of Italy's, and Gagosian's, best artists.
Go see him in London at the Estorick Collection

Derrick B. Harden (Dear Derrick & The Band) - Born 4 Porn

2012-11-14T14:30:00.004-05:00

If Derrick B. Harden was a student of New York city, then his latest project "Born 4 Porn" is his Senior thesis. Ironically enough, having never graduated from high school, he is a well-poised soon-to-be Renaissance man who graduated through life motivated by his will to self-education and self-betterment. After listening to his most prominent work to-date, the first project with his creative collective Dear Derrick & The Band, it is most appropriate to say he is as good a lyricist as a student of life. His relentless and frivolous word-play lead-in for "Ups and Downs" demonstrates the lyrical frolicking of great writers. His hook in "Capitalist Cards" exhibits his most accessible side to a more Pop-driven urban audience. Hip-hop is about storytelling and Derrick goes out of his way to narrate the full 360 of his life including the funny, the ugly, and the uncomfortable. The Funny we hear in "Drug Dealer" when he explains his participation in a farcical rat race as an eager, uninformed and illegitimate student of capitalism. The Bad is illustrated in "Song's of Sin." The imagery each speaker uses to tell the tales of their iniquities is chilling right down to its clever chorus. The Uncomfortable he touches on half-way through the collection in "Alot." He shares his toughest stories growing up as a young man in Brownsville, Brooklyn and expresses his frankest criticisms of how Consumerism as a way to freedom threatens optimism. His overall aim is the Truth at whatever unfriendly cost and we all know the Truth is an acquired taste. While Derrick's words of encouragement (and sometimes discouragement) are beneficial to most people, he finds his most devoted audience in intellectuals and young thinkers. On "Born 4 Porn," there really is a song for everyone. So if Derrick was a sort of trailblazer, "Born 4 Porn" is more like a letter to himself by which out of grace, he decided to share the contents of, with the whole world. Derrick B. Harden is Brooklyn's noble knight with the charisma of a suave orator. He is short but not always sweet and its okay because he speaks and acts with the heart of the city as his source of conscience.

Text by Shelby A Coley and Images by Anna Bloda

Chérie Blossom Party

2012-08-16T06:56:00.001-04:00

Olivier van Temsche, along with Tim Rustow, made a great party last weekend at Alf Naman's art building on 21st and West Side Highway. I love seeing the space used creatively and I think it's safe to say everyone had a fabulous time!
Images courtesy Nadav Vee Havakook www.nadavhavakook.com

Lisa Yuskavage at David Zwirner

2011-09-30T09:40:00.000-04:00

Lisa Yuskavage
Triptych
2011
Oil on linen
Each: 77 1/4 x 70 1/8 inches (196.2 x 178.1 x 3.8 cm)
YUSLI0395

Why go any deeper when the surface is so pleasing? That's what I asked a skeptic at the opening for Lisa Yuskavage's long awaited exhibition at David Zwirner. I love everything about this painter and her work; the subject matter, the landscape, the art historical references, the palette of colors, the technique of ephemeral-like painting. Indeed she creates a world of heavenly delights. The fact that some of the biggest artists of our time, from John Currin to Chuck Close were at the opening suggest that they too have a great regard for Ms. Yuskavage and her delicious work.

Lisa Yuskavage
Outskirts
2011
Oil on linen
86 x 120 inches (218.4 x 304.8 cm)
YUSLI0393

Lisa Yuskavage
Afternoon Feeding
2011
Oil on linen
86 x 71 inches (218.4 x 180.3 cm)
YUSLI0406

Matthew Barney: DJED at Gladstone Gallery

2011-09-20T15:38:00.000-04:00

I love the work of Matthew Barney. Always have, and I think always will. Here in a new series called "DJED" Matthew draws inspiration from Norman Mailer's "Ancient Evenings".

From the press release:

"Ancient Evenings” is a multi-part project structured as a site-specific opera in collaboration with Jonathan Bepler, loosely based on Norman Mailer's 1983 novel of the same title. Set in ancient Egypt, Mailer’s novel chronicles the seven stages of the soul's progression through death and rebirth according to Egyptian mythology, as told through the story of one man. While Mailer's narrative focuses on the transformation of the human body, Barney enacts the recurring cycles of reincarnation through the use of an automobile, creating a contemporary allegory of death and rebirth within the American industrial landscape. The sculptures on view are both formally and conceptually related to the 1967 Chrysler Crown Imperial from Cremaster 3. Revolving around three generations of American automobile design, the "Ancient Evenings" narrative is rooted in the reincarnation of its leading protagonist, the Chrysler Imperial."

Iron, copper, bronze and lead are a departure from Barney's traditional materials, and the RED drawings (unfortunately I don't have an image) are to die for in their particularity.

Until October 22 at Gladstone Gallery 21st Street

Spencer Tunick on the Dead Sea in Israel

2011-09-19T08:45:00.002-04:00

Henrique Oliveira: A Brazilian in Paris at Vallois

2011-09-14T12:16:00.000-04:00

Galerie Vallois in St Germain des Pres is one of those few galleries in the neighborhood that show contemporary art, and show it well. Like Kamel Mennour, the artists that I've seen there are all very good at what they are doing, and they do BIG things. Henrique Oliveira is no exception it seems with his twisting and winding root sculptures that break through the floors and ceilings of this space.

Until October 9, 2011

code 2.0

2011-09-13T10:32:00.000-04:00

Launched last October by Laetitia Chauvin and Clément Dirié code 2.0 has made a great come back as an English/French magazine featuring articles about contemporary art. Worth taking a look...

Maison de la Chasse et de la Nature

2011-09-13T10:27:00.000-04:00

This museum has been revamped and now includes exhibitions of contemporary art that fits the theme of the hunt and nature. Francoise Petrovitch's drawings, paintings and sculpture fit right into the old world assemblage of taxidermy, weaponry, video and objects around hunting. I wondered though if the artist was commissioned to make these works or chosen because of the subject of her previously existing body of work...

The Seabass at Fondation D'Enterprise Ricard

2011-09-13T10:22:00.000-04:00

For the 13th Prix Fondation d'enterprise Ricard a group exhibition of the finalists featuring several works from each artist are on view until October 29th.

Corentin Grossmann, "Lolo Landscape", 2010, crayon de couleur et aérographe sur papier, 145 x 100 cm.

Click here for images from the exhibition.

St Moritz Art Masters 2011

2011-09-13T10:15:00.000-04:00

Ten days of art that at first I thought I could do in 2 days. Well I stayed longer, and it was well worth it. All throughout the Engadin, public art works, gallery exhibitions, cocktails, dinners, parties, artists talks and film were what composed a fun and truly ART filled weekend. Many Swiss artists had their turn in the spotlight and some from other parts of Europe, China, America and Latin America. Curated by Reiner Opoku, the third year of this wonderful festival entitled St Moritz Art Masters or SAM was definitely a highlight of the summer art scene. This year's theme, Lingua Franca - A Public Intervention, was curated by husband and wife duo Mr. and Mrs. Marc Hungerbuehler.

Artists

Aliabadi Shirin

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Armleder John

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Aslanian Vahakn

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Baum Jacqueline & Jacob Ursula

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Choi Jeong Hwa

137 KB

Condo George

165 KB

Diaz Alejandro

159 KB

Dokoupil Georg

171 KB

Espina Tomas

137 KB

Ma Jennifer Wen

163 KB

Martin Ferran

137 KB

Marty Urs

139 KB

Meese Jonathan

175 KB

Morris Sarah

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Netzhammer Yves

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Reusse Stephan

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Signer Roman

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Spinatsch Jules

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Stolte Fiete

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Turello Amedeo

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Wei Li

159 KB

Galleries

Gallery Bischofberger

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Gallery Cahn

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Gallery Caratsch

174 KB

Gallery Cardenas

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Gallery Gmurzynska

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Gallery Greve

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Gallery Tschudi

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Gallery Vann

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Gallery von Bartha

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Project Lingua Franca

Lingua Franca Long

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Lingua Franca Short

83 KB

Baum Jacqueline & Jacob Ursula

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Choi Jeong Hwa

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Diaz Alejandro

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Espina Tomas

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Ma Jennifer Wen

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Martin Ferran

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Art Collection

Julius Baer Art Collection - Video works

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Maybach Foundation

La Rentree: Catching up with art in Switzerland on the way back to NYC

2011-09-13T09:53:00.001-04:00

So after a long break from writing in this blog I'm back. It was an eventful summer, too eventful at times to stop and record all the art things that I saw.
Briefly, in Zurich, there was a great exhibition by Christina Scheublein Fine Art. Gathering quite a roster of good artists for a group show that opened recently, I was happy to see familiar faces like Tjorg Douglas Beer from Berlin in 863km , Stefano Cagol from Italy and Dimitri Horta from Zurich in Underworld by Galerie Utopia/Forgotten Bar.

To Look Forward To: Richard Serra @ Gagosian 24th

2011-09-13T09:43:00.000-04:00

Gagosian Gallery presents Richard Serra, again. Worth checking out this titan's new output in NYC. Wish I were there...

RICHARD SERRA
Junction, 2011
Weatherproof steel
13' 1/2" x 75' 1/2" x 49' 9 15/16" (4 x 22.9 x 15.2 m)
© Richard Serra. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery. Photo by Lorenz Kienzle

Born in 1938, Richard Serra is one of the most significant artists of his generation. His groundbreaking bodies of work in both sculpture and drawing have been celebrated with major retrospectives at The Museum of Modern Art ("Richard Serra Sculpture Forty Years," 2007 and "Richard Serra/Sculpture," 1986) and the current "Richard Serra Drawings: A Retrospective" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which will travel this year to SFMOMA and the Menil Collection in Houston. He has produced large-scale, site-specific sculptures for architectural, urban and landscape settings spanning the globe, from Iceland to New Zealand. In addition to his 2008 MONUMENTA installation Promenade at the Grand Palais in Paris, Serra conceived The Matter of Time, an eight-part permanent installation at the Guggenheim Bilbao in 2005.

Pics of Christmas in the Summer: A Conceptual bi-coastal art show by Derrick B. Harden and Laura O'Reilly

2011-08-29T10:20:00.000-04:00

Teddy Willoughby, Laura O'Reily, Derrick B Harden, Meghan Colman and Jasmine Levitt

Derrick & Laura O'Reily