Daniel Heidkamp at Derek Eller Gallery

The huge portal dominating Daniel Heidkamp’s hotel room painting leads us into more than we might expect. From what looks to be one of the Maritime Hotel’s distinctive windows, Heidkamp shuffles the New York skyline and offers glimpses of a ballet rehearsal in a building that only exists in this painting. It feels surprisingly daring to rearrange New York’s built environment and particularly appropriate as construction booms in the city. (At Derek Eller Gallery through Feb 5th).

Daniel Heidkamp, Dreams, oil on linen, 96 x 72 inches, 2016.
Daniel Heidkamp, Dreams, oil on linen, 96 x 72 inches, 2016.

Daniel Heidkamp in ‘Some Thoughts About Marks’ at Jack Hanley Gallery

This boy of summer doesn’t have a care in the world, despite having failed to take a swing at the ball whizzing in front of him. He’s as cheerful as a clothing model on a catalogue shoot yet his odd proportions make this painting by Daniel Heidkamp an engaging mix of familiar and strange. (At Jack Hanley Gallery through August 22nd).

Daniel Heidkamp, Town League Slugger, oil on linen, 36 x 30 inches, 2014.

Daniel Heidkamp in ‘Bathers’ at Morgan Lehman Gallery

Is this vacationer’s vacant stare an expression of total relaxation or haunting anxiety?  Sketchy hands and underdeveloped legs put the focus on this man’s shadowy head and torso in ‘Another Side of Bad Blake,’ a drama wrapped in a portrait by Brooklyn painter Daniel Heidkamp.  (At Chelsea’s Morgan Lehman Gallery through Aug 23rd.)  

Daniel Heidkamp, ‘Another Side of Bad Blake,’ oil on canvas, 2012.