Josh Smith at David Zwirner Gallery

‘Holiday,’ Josh Smith’s painting of the Grim Reaper, may represent a vacation in Edvard Munch’s world, but otherwise has more to do with livening up a typically drab comic convention.  A super-abundance of cute bats, Death’s multi-colored robe and a huge moon that’s more pretty-in-pink than bloody liven up a scene that should be darker than it is.  While this representation might not exactly make death look good, the makeover is worth thinking about.  (On view at David Zwirner Gallery in Chelsea through July 19th).

Josh Smith, Holiday, oil on linen, 84 x 72 inches, 2019.