Tayrn Simon at Gagosian Gallery

Innocuous floral arrangements in archival photos of historically important business and political meetings inspired New York artist Tayrn Simon’s latest project, ‘Paperwork and the Will of Capital.’ With a botanist’s help, she recreated bouquets present at shady dealings – when Mozambique agreed with South African not to support the ANC in the 80s, or when business owners purchased citizenship in St Kitts in return for supporting economic development there. She then entombed photos, texts and specimens in a concrete press, which acts here as a pedestal. (At Gagosian Gallery, through March 26th).

Tayrn Simon, installation view of Paperwork and the Will of Capital at Gagosian Gallery, 555 W. 24th Street, February 2016.
Tayrn Simon, installation view of Paperwork and the Will of Capital at Gagosian Gallery, 555 W. 24th Street, February 2016.

Lucy Mackenzie at Nancy Hoffman Gallery

The color, transience and fragility of flowers inspires British painter Lucy Mackenzie; here, a drawing of late summer flowers in colored pencil on paper is a last hurrah for summer. (At Nancy Hoffman Gallery in Chelsea through May 2nd).

Lucy Mackenzie, September Flowers, colored pencil on paper, 4 ¾ x 4 ¾ inches, 2015.