Tag: cactus

Jennifer J. Lee at Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery

Closeups of a yellow cable knit sweater, acne scars, popcorn and other objects with textured surfaces draw viewers into Jennifer J Lee’s tiny representational paintings at Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery.  Colorful and complex, they engage the senses on multiple levels; painted on rough panels of jute, Lee accentuates the tactility of her subjects.  Here, cacti crowd the frame of this 13 x 12 inch piece offering a lively dynamic of sharp thorns and strong light.  (On view on the Lower East Side through June 26th.  Masks and social distancing required).

Jennifer J. Lee, Prickly Pear, oil on jute, 13 x 12 inches, 2021.

Raul de Lara at Ethan Cohan Fine Art

A cactus featuring a grinning mask greets visitors to Raul de Lara’s New York solo show debut at Chelsea’s Ethan Cohan Fine Art, but beneath the apparent levity are the hard realities of the artist’s migrant experience.  Though he employs humor to lift his audiences’ spirits, de Lara reveals the frustration and anxiety of life as DACA recipient in his autobiographical sculptures.  Surprising juxtapositions of forms, like this school desk studded with dangerous cactus needles, energize the work and, in this case, recall how the artist was hit on the hand by nuns at school who punished him for being left-handed.  De Lara gets the last laugh here by lodging a piece of gum under the desk, a mini act of rebellion.  (On view in Chelsea through Oct 17th by appointment.  Masks and social distancing are required.)


Raul de Lara, For Being Left-Handed, 2020, Pine, Chiclets Gum, Acrylic, Brass, Steel, Particle Board, 27 x 12 x 13 in.

Matt Johnson in ‘Alien Landscape’ at 303 Gallery

Humor and wonder meet in Matt Johnson’s sculptures, which appear to fantastically adapt unlikely materials.  Whether it’s a t-shirt rising up of its own accord with no wearer or a garden hose twisting in the air, Johnson’s bronze and metal creations initially fool the eye, then entertain.  A standout in 303 Gallery’s summer group show ‘Alien Landscape,’ this cast bronze alien cactus is a new take on space invasion.  (On view by appointment, Tues – Fri, through August 20th.  Masks and social distancing required.)

Matt Johnson, Alien Cactus, Cast bronze with oil paint, 18 1/2 x 12 x 5 3/4 inches, 2015.