Four paintings in Ortuzar Projects’ exhibition of work by iconic feminist artist Sylvia Sleigh feature Paul Rosano, the subject of this boundary-breaking portrait from 1975. Clothed, nude and scantily-dressed, the musician and life model appears in poses usually filled by female figures in western art histories. More brazenly posed than the Renaissance Venuses or holy figures to whom Sleigh alludes, yet in pleasing contrapposto and surrounded by feminizing flowers, Sleigh’s male figures still have the power to surprise. (On view in Tribeca through April 5th).
