Tag: assemblage

Jon Pylypchuk at Petzel Gallery

LA’s trash is Jon Pylypchuk’s treasure, transformed via glitter and wood glue into a series of humorous portraits of alien-like creatures now on view at Chelsea’s Petzel Gallery.  The family trio featured in this panel is quirky and cute with their big eyes (actually cue balls) on cartoonishly large heads but also grotesque with their sagging and twisting flesh (composed of pants).  The title, ‘I used to be your internet kids,’ jokingly suggests that the passage of time wears on everyone, human and alien alike as offspring grow up and move on.  (On view through Feb 29th).

Jon Pylypchuk, I used to be your internet kids, fabric, wood glue, watercolor, glitter, black cue balls, polyurethane, wood on linen on panel, 2019.

Judy Pfaff at Miles McEnery Gallery

From melted plastics to acrylic paint on paper from old Indian ledgers, Judy Pfaff’s use of traditional and non-traditional art materials continues to set her exuberantly colored new assemblages apart.  Now on view at Miles McEnery Gallery, her new riotous new creations are dominated by circular and organic forms. Part of a series of pieces title ‘Quartet,’ they find harmony in difference.  (On view through March 9th in Chelsea).

Judy Pfaff, detail of ‘Quartet + 1, photographic inspired digital image, aluminum disks, acrylic, melted plastic, 102 x 120 x 26 inches, 2018.

Claes Oldenburg at Pace Gallery

Claes Oldenburg’s new sculptures remix objects familiar from his and parter Coosje van Bruggen’s career (a pencil once proposed as a New York monument, a banana skin flapping in the wind, yellow and brown potato chips). Collectively titled ‘Shelf Life,’ Oldenberg’s relatively small-scale assemblages beg the question of an idea’s staying power and continued relevance. (At Pace Gallery’s 24th Street location through Nov 11th).

Claes Oldenburg, Shelf Life Number 2, mixed media, 19 15/16 x 28 ¾ x 12 3/16 inches, 2016-17.

Vanessa German at Pavel Zoubok Gallery

Pittsburgh-based artist Vanessa German assembles a stunningly arrayed army of folk characters for her current show at Chelsea’s Pavel Zoubok Gallery. The figure in the foreground holds a lantern aloft as if to metaphorically light the way forward; a mother with an astounding headdress of ceramic devotional sculpture holds her limp child to the right; a figure at back speaks for social justice by holding up a stop sign. (Through Nov 30th).

Vanessa German, installation view of ‘I Am Armed. I Am an Army’ at Pavel Zoubok Gallery. Foreground: ‘no admittance apply at office,’ mixed-media assemblage, 73 x 30 x 16 inches, 2016.
Vanessa German, installation view of ‘I Am Armed. I Am an Army’ at Pavel Zoubok Gallery. Foreground: ‘no admittance apply at office,’ mixed-media assemblage, 73 x 30 x 16 inches, 2016.

Aidas Bareikis at Canada New York

Brooklyn-based Lithuanian sculptor Aidas Bareikis continues to mine the world’s junk for his intense sculptural accumulations. Here, ‘Too Much Seaweed’ suggests a global warming meltdown or a calving of the planet. (At Canada New York on the Lower East Side through Dec 4th).

Aidas Bareikis, Too Much Seaweed, globes and fabric cut-offs on flower pot stand, 50.5 x 21.5 x 12 inches, 2016.
Aidas Bareikis, Too Much Seaweed, globes and fabric cut-offs on flower pot stand, 50.5 x 21.5 x 12 inches, 2016.