Tag: humor

Peter Saul at Mary Boone Gallery

Emmanuel Leutze’s famous depiction of George Washington crossing the Delaware River on the night of Dec 25th, 1776 takes artistic liberties, but not as many as Peter Saul’s hilarious comic version. Hopping across potato-like icebergs, Washington as a flower-hatted dandy uses his massive fists to punch red-faced, bug-eyed Hessian mercenaries in a dramatic historical rewrite. (At Chelsea’s Mary Boone Gallery through Dec 18th).

 Peter Saul, George Washington Crossing the Delaware, acrylic/canvas, 64 x 82 inches, 2015.

Antoine Catala in Six Advertisements at Marlborough Gallery Chelsea

French artist Antoine Catala contributed a standout piece to the New Museum’s Triennial last spring by commissioning an ad agency to work on a campaign to promote empathy in an info-saturated age. With similar humor, the man absorbed in his cell phone here is not only acting distant but has the word stitched onto his body in happy, puffy letters. (At Chelsea’s Marlborough Gallery through July 31st.)

Antoine Catala, Feel Images (Distant), digital photograph on suede fabric, cotton, wood, batting, 72 x 48 x 5 ¼ inches, 2015.

Diane Simpson in ‘Over & Under’ at Sikkema Jenkins & Co.

This mystery object (Exercise machine? Seesaw? Giant snowshoe?) by Diane Simpson is a humorous stand-out in Sikkema Jenkins’ summer group show of minimalism-inspired objects. It depicts an oversized sombrero. (In Chelsea through July 24th).

Diane Simpson, Sombrero, acrylic paint, MDF, polyester spunbond fabric, metallic cord, 34 x 90 x 25 inches, 1995. (Background wall cover: Matt Keegan, double-wall cardboard, dimensions variable, 2015).

Tony Matelli at Marlborough Gallery

A sandblasted garden sculpture decorated with bronze sausage is a gratifying opener at Marlborough Gallery for fans of Tony Matelli’s offbeat humor and meticulous craft. But it’s the inverted, nude Adam and Eve sculptures in the back gallery that make the show unmissable. (In Chelsea through June 20th).

Tony Matelli, Warrior (detail), concrete and painted bronze, 55 x 21 x 17 inches, 2015.

David Shrigley at Anton Kern Gallery

Traditionally, Chelsea galleries are closed today – the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend but a sea-change may be coming; it’s the last day to catch David Shrigley’s show at Anton Kern Gallery, which contrary to the tongue-in-cheek signage, will be open today. (Through May 23rd).

David Shrigley, installation view at Anton Kern Gallery, May 2015.