Tag: inspiration

Ghada Amer at Marianne Boesky Gallery

“Do not fit into the glass slipper like Cinderella did, shatter the glass ceiling,” reads the text (quoting Indian actor Priyanka Chopra?) covering Ghada Amer’s portrait of her friend, Elizabeth.  Though Amer has changed her subjects from women in erotic magazines to friends, family and collaborators, she has not altered her habit of citing truisms from a feminist perspective.  Her latest Chelsea show – her first at Marianne Boesky Gallery – features texts intended to build up women and their capabilities.  (On view through Oct 23rd).

Ghada Amer, Portrait of Elizabeth, acrylic, embroidery, and gel medium on canvas, 2021.

Chris Ofili at the New Museum

At the beginning of his workday, British-born, Trinidad-based artist Chris Ofili experiments with watercolor and pencil drawings of his ‘Afromuses,’ imagined male and female characters that create a varied repertoire of inspirational characters. Seen here at Ofili’s New Museum exhibition, a selection of over 80 pieces showcases his quirky yet regal characters. (Through Jan 25th).

Chris Ofili, installation view of ‘Afromuses,’ at the New Museum, watercolor and pencil on paper, 1995-2005.

Heri Dono at Tyler Rollins Fine Art

Part-astronaut, part-characters from the Hindu epics, Indonesian artist Heri Dono’s ‘Flying Angels’ were, for the artist, symbols of inspiration and the future. Stand outs in the internationally-known artist’s first New York solo show at Tyler Rollins Fine Art in Chelsea, they introduce a fanciful body of work enlivened by references to Javanese folk theater. (Through Dec 20th).

Installation view of: Heri Dono, Flying Angels, fiberglass, fabric, bamboo, acrylic paint, electronic and mechanical devices, cable, automatic timer, 10 pieces, each 39 x 24 x 10 inches, 1996.

Leslie Wayne in ‘Compilation’ at Jack Shainman Gallery

Working to music (including like Patti Griffin’s ‘One Big Love,’ after which the series was titled) and restricting her painting to shaped surfaces like this draped rag, New York artist Leslie Wayne explains that she was seeking to capture the ‘eureka moment,’ when inspiration takes over and a piece ‘works.’  (At Chelsea’s Jack Shainman Gallery through Aug 17th).  

Leslie Wayne, One Big Love #63 (Paint/Rag #5), oil on panel, 2011.