Louis Fratino at Sikkema Jenkins & Co.

Surprisingly, Louis Fratino’s still lives can be the most dynamic of his works – a sink full of dishes or an arrangement of fish in a market stall appear as a jumble of curving or stacked forms in constant motion.  In ‘Latteria,’ from Fratino’s current show at Sikkema Jenkins and Co., the artist creates an intriguing balance of action and repose as he combines the bustle of the figures in the café, tables that tilt and floor tiles that rear up with the stillness of the central figure who sits with a quiet and pensive look.  (On view in Chelsea through Dec 9th).

Louis Fratino, Latteria, oil on canvas, 47 x 42 inches, 2023.

Tim Gardner at 303 Gallery

‘Great Divide,’ the title of this watercolor by Tim Gardner at 303 Gallery, could refer to U.S. politics or the Rockies; chiefly, it taps into mythologies of the lone wanderer.  German Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich’s iconic solitary figure on a cliff’s edge comes to mind, now behind the wheel of a gas guzzler and protected by guardrails.  The restorative qualities of nature, experienced particularly during the pandemic, no doubt inspired Gardner.  At the same time, the complexities of contemporary relationships to nature make the image enticing and uncomfortable.  (On view in Chelsea through Aug 13th).

Tim Gardner, Great Divide, watercolor on paper, 15 x 19 7/8 inches, 2021.

Stuart Davis in Havana at Kasmin Gallery

While recovering from the Spanish flu in 1920, iconic American modernist painter Stuart Davis made a short trip to Cuba, recording its people and places in a series of alluring watercolors now on view at Chelsea’s Kasmin Gallery.  Often pictured in silhouette, Davis’ figures appear to be glimpsed in passing.  Suffused with light-infused, warm tones, the paintings evidence the intrigue of an unfamiliar environment.  (On view through Aug 13th.)

Stuart Davis, La Casa Rosa, watercolor on paper, 24 7/8 x 19 inches, 1920.

Jeppe Hein at LaGuardia Airport

Last weekend’s biggest art opening didn’t take place in a gallery (they’re mostly still closed) but at LaGuardia Airport, where four artists including Danish artist Jeppe Hein have installed new work as shiny as Hein’s work at 303 Gallery last September (pictured here).  Featuring steel balloons affixed to the ceiling and curvy benches designed to encourage  conversation, Hein’s new installation strikes a celebratory mood that’s a little out of step with current concerns about flying during the pandemic but a worthy gesture of hopefulness for the future.

Jeppe Hein, Intersecting Circles, high polished stainless steel, 87 3/8 x 85 x 70 inches, 2019.

Derrick Adams at Tilton Gallery

Tiny roads bisect the anonymous subject of Derrick Adams painted collage, suggesting that this character is on an unswerving journey. Plaid fabric maps a city grid and African textiles nod to the heritage of the woman in this vibrant portrait of an individual in the driver’s seat of her own life. (On view at Tilton Gallery on the Upper East Side through Jan 6th).

Derrick Adams, Figure in the Urban Landscape 3, acrylic, graphite, ink, fabric on paper collage, grip tape and model cars on wood panel, 48 ½ x 48 ½ x 2 1/8 inches, 2017.