Vanessa Maltese at Nicelle Beauchene

Young Toronto-based painter Vanessa Maltese has a different take on the shoe as object d’art. In a show titled, ‘Company,’ it appears that she has invited guests who have removed their shoes in an empty gallery, then disappeared. In fact, each piece of footware is cast aluminum, painted in oil. Too clean to compare to Van Gogh’s famous paintings of heavily used shoes, these sneakers have some travels yet to complete. (At Nicelle Beauchene Gallery on the Lower East Side through Dec 22nd).

Vanessa Maltese, in the foreground: Ari (company), oil on cast aluminum and socks, 4 x 4 x 12 inches, 2016.
Vanessa Maltese, in the foreground: Ari (company), oil on cast aluminum and socks, 4 x 4 x 12 inches, 2016.

Ann Wilson at The Drawing Center

Inspired by the fact that the Drawing Center’s 1866 SoHo building originally housed a loom company, Chicago-based artist Anne Wilson’s installation is an artwork being gradually created by winding and crossing thread around the gallery’s columns. (Through December 14th).

Anne Wilson, To Cross (Walking New York), site-specific performance and sculpture, 2014.