Tag: stairs

Adam McEwan at Petzel Gallery

With oppressive systems as his theme, British artist Adam McEwan presents sculptures of supercomputers that move data, a rendition of airport security trays and this walk-in sculpture of the letter ‘K.’ The letter stands in for Kafka and a character in ‘The Trial’ as well as a hieroglyph for an open hand. The most convincing way to understand the mood of the piece, however, is to climb the terrifyingly steep stairs. (At Petzel Gallery through April 30th).

Adam McEwan, Staircase, wood, steel, 18’ – 10” x 12’ – 11 5/8” x 3’ – 10 1/4,” 2016.
Adam McEwan, Staircase, wood, steel, 18’ – 10” x 12’ – 11 5/8” x 3’ – 10 1/4,” 2016.

Eleanor Ray at Steven Harvey Fine Art Projects





Eleanor Ray’s tiny rendition of Fra Angelico’s Annunciation at the Convent of San Marco in Florence substitutes the early Renaissance master’s exquisite detail for a soft-edged summary. Seen in Ray’s painting through a doorway and from below, the architecture acts like a winged altarpiece, opening to reveal a mirage-like vision. (At Steven Harvey Fine Art Projects through Dec 24th). 

Eleanor Ray, San Marco Stairs, oil on panel, 6 x 5 ½ inches, 2014.

Simon Schubert at Foley Gallery

Edgar Allan Poe’s stern face dominates one very dark wall of graphite drawings by German artist Simon Schubert at the Lower East Side’s Foley Gallery; on the other, a series of white paper ‘drawings’ are folded to create the lines that picture a staircase with a ghostly figure. The sense of a benign, ghostly presence is palpable. (Through Oct 18th).

Simon Schubert, Untitled (Stairs with Figure), 39.5 x 27.5 inches, 2015.