Hawaii-born master ceramicist Toshiko Takaezu’s sculptural forms from the 90s, on view at James Cohan Gallery, synthesize Abstract Expressionism and Japanese art tradition with understated beauty. Working in a palette of colors inspired by nature in her home state, Takaezu ventured beyond earthly inspiration to create ‘moon pots’ like this one from two half-spheres. (On view in Tribeca through May 7th).
A glowing globe of hand-stitched prayer caps headlines ‘Nurun ‘ala Nur (Light Upon Light)’, Australian artist Abdullah M. I. Syed’s current show at Aicon Gallery. Positioned over a water-like, reflective blue surface, the light sculpture imitates a full moon, associating the sublime beauty of a celestial body with personal and group devotion. (On view through March 6th).
What color is the moon? Astronauts disagreed on the answer, and their conversations sparked artist and son of the founders of the Italian fashion company Missoni to reorient his long-term photographic study of the moon to portray the celestial body in brilliant color. In an installation in Benrubi Gallery’s dark side gallery, Missoni presents an installation of back-lit transparencies that give the orb a stunning presence. (On view in Chelsea through Dec 21st).
Marking the 20th anniversary of Nancy Graves’ death, a show at Mitchell-Innes & Nash of sculpture and paintings from the 80s based on maps of the ocean floor or the surface of the moon evidence a respect for nature and a drive to experiment with form. The exhibition also includes the camel sculptures that made her name in the late 60s/early 70s. (In Chelsea through March 7th).
Nancy Graves, installation view at Mitchell-Innes and Nash, Feb 2015.
