Tag: appropriation

Miranda Lichtenstein at Elizabeth Dee Gallery

The ‘you’ in this photo by New York artist Miranda Lichtenstein points in several directions; most obvious is a shaming of the plastic bag user, more concerned with convenience than environmental responsibility. It also leads away from Lichtenstein herself, considering that the image is a manipulation of a work by artist Josh Blackwell, whose practice involves layering and sewing on plastic carrier bags. It’s hard to tell where one artist’s work begins and the other ends, but both come out ahead – Lichtenstein for her generosity in sharing her platform and Blackwell for his creativity. (At Elizabeth Dee Gallery in Chelsea through Dec 19th).

 Miranda Lichtenstein, You!, archival pigment print, 40 x 26 ½ inches, 2015.

Claudia Comte at Barbara Gladstone Gallery

Inspired by Road Runner cartoons, Swiss artist Claudia Comte picked up a chainsaw as a young woman and started carving replica-cacti and more. Brancusi, Noguchi and other 20th century minimalists are references, along with more vernacular items, like the wine bottle opener that seems to have prompted this piece. Comte’s cheeky art historical remix results in a handsome installation. (At Barbara Gladstone Gallery’s 21st Street space through March 21st).

Claudia Comte, installation view of ‘No Melon No Lemon’ at Barbara Gladstone Gallery, Feb 2015.

Louise Lawler at Metro Pictures

Iconic appropriation artist Louise Lawler appropriates her own appropriations in her latest show at Chelsea’s Metro Pictures gallery with this black and white tracing of an earlier work, printed on vinyl and hung on an entire gallery wall. Drained of color and magnified, the Pollock above and tureen below seem less dissimilar. (Through July 25th).

Louise Lawler, Pollock and Tureen (traced), signed certificate, installation instructions, and PDF formatted file, dimensions variable, 1984/2013.