Chris Ofili at David Zwirner Gallery

Four paintings hang against chain link fencing at David Zwirner Gallery in Chelsea, inaccessible to the public except by a narrow corridor between the fence and the wall, which has been painted with towering figures of sinuous dancers, themselves depicted behind a painted fence. The show is titled ‘Paradise Lost’ and follows Ofili’s ‘The Caged Bird’s Song’ at London’s National Gallery, for which the artist alluded to the practice in his adopted home, Trinidad, of raising caged songbirds. Here, aggressive fencing suggests that it is not the song of the caged bird that is sweeter. (On view through Oct 21st).

Chris Ofili, installation view of ‘Paradise Lost’ at David Zwirner Gallery’s 533 West 19th Street space, Sept 2017.

Allan McCollum at Mary Boone Gallery

Why do we collect objects? Whether it’s art, fossils or shoes, Allan McCollum suggests that we’re looking to fulfill greater needs. In this piece from 1991, currently on view at Mary Boone Gallery’s 24th Street location, McCollum presents cast copies of original bones from the Carnegie Museum, begging the question of what their collection and display means for human history. (On view through April 29th).

Allan McCollum, Collection of Two Hundred and Forty Lost Objects, dimensions variable (240), enamel/glass-fiber reinforced concrete, 1991.