Matt Johnson in ‘Alien Landscape’ at 303 Gallery

Humor and wonder meet in Matt Johnson’s sculptures, which appear to fantastically adapt unlikely materials.  Whether it’s a t-shirt rising up of its own accord with no wearer or a garden hose twisting in the air, Johnson’s bronze and metal creations initially fool the eye, then entertain.  A standout in 303 Gallery’s summer group show ‘Alien Landscape,’ this cast bronze alien cactus is a new take on space invasion.  (On view by appointment, Tues – Fri, through August 20th.  Masks and social distancing required.)

Matt Johnson, Alien Cactus, Cast bronze with oil paint, 18 1/2 x 12 x 5 3/4 inches, 2015.

Magdalena Suarez Frimkess at kaufmannrepetto.com

Though Minnie Mouse and other comic icons are a recurring subject for Magdalena Suarez Frimkess, they’re new every time she makes them.  This is apparent in this sculpture of Minnie holding a Prada bag and cocking her head thoughtfully to the side from Suarez Frimkess’ 2017 show at Kaufmann Repetto.  The gallery’s current on-line show of Suarez Frimkess’ features insights from the artist, more Minnies and diverse work that draws on art historical sources from Egyptian sculpture to pre-Columbian art.

Magdalena Suarez Frimkess, Untitled, ceramic, glaze, 8.25 x 4 x 3 inches, 2016.

Carmen Herrera in City Hall Park

Carmen Herrera’s longevity as an artist continues to amaze; the informational texts for her installation of boldly colored abstract sculptures at City Hall Park declare her age (104) in the first line before going on to comment on the artwork.  In the 50s and beyond, Herrera was in the center of New York’s art world and at its margins, making artwork in conversation with the developing language of abstraction but underappreciated because of her gender and lacking funding to realize her plans for boldly colored sculpture.  Installed in the park, her architectural forms are in the company of landmarks including City Hall and the Woolworth Building.  Here, they speak to Herrera’s personal and political concerns, from a piece memorializing her late brother to a sculpture constructed of two interlocking forms that nod to Cuban/American relations.  (On view downtown at City Hall Park via the Public Art Fund through Nov 8th).

Carmen Herrera, Amarillo Tres, 1971/2018.

Daniel Arsham at Galerie Perrotin

Inspired by the DeLorean in the movie ‘Back to the Future,’ Daniel Arsham imagines the car as a relic from even further back, a remnant of the past now studded with sparkling patches of quartz crystal and pyrite.  Alongside a similarly eroded Ferrari and a pile of obsolete consumer electronics, Arsham points out that given time, our castoffs revert to objects of desire.  (On view at Perrotin through Oct 21st).

Daniel Arsham, Eroded DeLorean, stainless steel, glass, reinforced plastic, quartz crystal, pyrite, paint, h. 44 7/8 x l. 166 x 73 1/8 inches, 2018.

 

Simone Leigh at Luhring Augustine Gallery

Simone Leigh continues to merge bodies and architecture in provocative ways in her debut at Luhring Augustine in Chelsea.  Highlights include the raffia-skirted figure on the left, a maternal character elevated by her tall, tent-like garment and commanding respect with her hands-on-hips pose.  Natural materials contrast the delicate porcelain flowers clustered in a wreath around her face, suggesting a woman equally at ease with the ready-made and refined.  (On view through Oct 20th).

Simone Leigh, installation view at Luhring Augustine Gallery, Sept 2018.