The color and lighting of Gregory Crewdson’s new photos can be traced to his interest in how painters of the 19th century and prior drew viewers into their paintings with detail and tones that could be appreciated from both near and far. The photos’ suspenseful and melancholy mood might be attributable to major life changes, which have included a new gallery, a divorce and a move out of New York. (At Gagosian Gallery’s 21st Street location through March 5th).
The pyramids meet a great big expressionist splash of paint in a recreation of a mural by Roy Lichtenstein from 1983, which brings together references from art history and Lichtenstein’s previous work in a size XXL jumble. Originally installed for six weeks at Leo Castelli Gallery before being painted over, Gagosian Gallery is currently hosting a redo, accompanied by paintings and sculpture that flesh out Lichtenstein’s subject matter, from a Picasso head to a piece of Swiss cheese. (In Chelsea through Oct 17th).
Roy Lichtenstein, Greene Street Mural, 1983 (replica, 2015).
Believe it or not, Michael Heizer’s ‘Potato Chip’ sculpture is not the heaviest sculpture in Chelsea right now (Richard Serra’s ‘Equal’ at David Zwirner Gallery has it beat), though at 18 tons, it may be the most incongruously titled. Still, it makes a hefty impact as visitors take the measure of the artwork with their own bodies. (At Gagosian Gallery’s 24th Street space through July 2nd).
Michael Heizer, Potato Chip, 18-ton granite rock in steel frame, 172 x 106 ¾ x 92 inches, 2015.
Iconic French designer and architect Jean Prouve’s 1956 Villejuif Demountable House – designed for a school in Villejuif in south Paris – fills a side room at Gagosian Gallery’s 24th Street Chelsea location, turning it into a chic platform to show off sculpture by the late John Chamberlain. (Through April 4th).
Installation view of ‘Chamberlain/Prouve’ (in collaboration with Galerie Patrick Seguin) at Gagosian Gallery, 555 W. 24th Street, March 2015, including Jean Prouve, Villejuif Demountable House, metal, wood, aluminum and glass, 11.5 x 35 x 29 ft, 1956.
Seventeen taxidermy molds of foxes, deer and caribou by iconic conceptual artist Bruce Nauman are poised like an acrobatic troupe but are more creepy than entertaining. Nauman ups the discomfort by keeping them hairless to suggest that they’ve experienced an unnamed brutality. (At Gagosian Gallery’s 821 Park Ave location through Feb 21st).
Bruce Nauman, Animal Pyramid, polyurethane foam, iron, wood, and wire, 144 x 84 x 96 inches, 1989.
