Matthew Brandt at Yossi Milo Gallery

Selling off unwanted furniture and household decoration takes a new twist in one of Matthew Brandt’s latest series, ‘Rooms,’ at Yossi Milo Gallery, for which he acquired chandeliers, then hot-fused photos of the room in which the chandelier hung to the individual pieces of the chandelier.  Literally bearing witness to their past, the lights feature windows (as seen here), furnishings and other signs of life from the past owner.  In this piece, ‘May’s Living Room,’ pictures of the past environment recall a pointillist painting crossed with a geometric abstraction.  (On view in Chelsea through Dec 11th).

Matthew Brandt, from the series Rooms, May’s Living Room, photographic glass chandelier pieces with painted metal armature, 9 x 16 x 16 inches, 2021.

Fred Wilson at Pace Gallery

Fred Wilson continues to consider African diasporic populations of the Mediterranean in a selection of recent work commissioned for the 15th Istanbul Biennial, currently on view at Pace Gallery in Chelsea.  Uncharacteristically dark-toned Iznik tile walls include the text ‘Black is Beautiful’ and ‘Mother Africa’ in elaborate Arabic script while chandeliers combine black Murano glass from Venice with metal elements that evoke Ottoman design.  Wilson’s installation merges diverse traditions with dramatic flair and elegance, suggesting complexity in the histories his art investigates. (On view through August 17th).

Fred Wilson, installation view at Pace Gallery, July 2018.

Jessica Segall at Cuchifritos Gallery

Jessica Segall’s light sculptures are off the grid in a uniquely local way at Cuchifritos Gallery, nestled in a corner of the Essex Street Market. Lemons and plantains speak of far-away climes but have been sourced from a nearby market stall and wired to produce power to (dimly) light this chandelier. (On the Lower East Side through Oct 30th).

Jessica Segall, installation view of ‘When Life Gives you Lemons, Make Chandeliers’ at Cuchifritos Gallery and Project Space, Oct 2016.
Jessica Segall, installation view of ‘When Life Gives you Lemons, Make Chandeliers’ at Cuchifritos Gallery and Project Space, Oct 2016.