Swoon at the Brooklyn Museum

Shredded and twisted fabric create the bark on a 60-foot tall tree by renowned street artist Swoon that fills the Brooklyn Museum’s fifth floor rotunda. The tree anchors a stunning installation that features huge portraits of the artist’s friends and family along with rag-tag boats that once plied the waters in New York and Venice. (On view through August 24th).

Swoon, installation view of ‘Submerged Motherlands,’ at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, April – August, 2014.

Carlos Vega in ‘Compilation’ at Jack Shainman Gallery

On two cold, grey sheets of lead, Spanish-born artist Carlos Vega depicts a tree bearing lively fruit represented by used postage stamps – icons drawn from a diverse array of cultures and times.  (At Jack Shainman’s 20th St location through Aug 17th).  

Carlos Vega, detail of ‘Ivory Tower,’ stamps and oil paint on lead, 2012.