James Sienna at Pace Gallery

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Known for intricate drawings and paintings organized by patterns and rules he devises for himself, New York artist James Sienna crosses over into sculpture for his latest show at Pace Gallery. Though he’s made 3-D work for decades, it’s his debut sculptural exhibition and includes objects of wonder and beauty, like this cherry wood configuration that scales up models made with toothpicks and grape stems. (At 508 West 25th Street through April 25th)

James Sienna, Just Read the Instructions, cherry wood, 47 3/4” x 68 1/2” x 59 3/4,” unique, 2013.

Ros Chast at Danese Corey

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With typical humor, illustrator and New Yorker cartoonist Ros Chast updates the painted egg tradition with a colorful rendition of an anxious Frida Kahlo; in the egg to the left, a giant sign reading ‘buy this’ hints at the commercialism of the holidays. (At Danese Corey in Chelsea through April 18th).

Ros Chast, installation view of ‘Eggs,’ eggshell, dye and polyurethane, approx. 2.25 x 1.625 inches, 2010-13.

Sam Durant in ‘Dissolving Margins’ at Paula Cooper Gallery

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Inspired by and titled after the final line in Martinique Surrealist Suzanne Cesaire’s ‘The Great Camouflage,’ Sam Durant locates an all-seeing eye over the Atlantic Ocean, a passageway between ‘old’ and ‘new’ worlds, questioning who ‘sees’ whom and how accurately. (At Paula Cooper Gallery in Chelsea through April 25th).

Sam Durant, “…the great game of hide and seek has succeeded, it is them because, on that day, the weather is most certainly too blindingly bright and beautiful to see clearly therein,” globe, acrylic (painting Steve Nunez), 32” diameter, 2014.

Dale Chihuly at Marlborough Gallery

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The dramatic centerpiece of Dale Chihuly’s show of recent work at Marlborough Gallery’s 57th Street space combines burnt logs, glass ‘reeds’ and neon light in a scenario that evokes nature but with overtly man-made objects and forms. Sapphire lights and the juxtaposition of sharp and round shapes both draw in and confound the eye. (Through April 11th).

Dale Chihuly, Sapphire Neon with Burned Logs and Neodymium Reeds, neon lights, burned wood and hand blown glass over stainless steel rods, 96 x 252, 180 inches, 2015.

Mao Yan at Pace Gallery

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The first U.S. solo show of acclaimed Chinese portraitist Mao Yan opens with this young man, Xiao Dai, staring up and out at us from a smoky grey environment with a confident look and defensive posture. Mao’s models are usually drawn from his circle of family and friends, but could this figure’s cautious gaze be a stand in for Mao’s own feelings on his debut? (At Pace Gallery’s 534 W. 25th Street location through April 4th).

Mao Yan, Xiao Dai, oil on canvas, 51 3/16 – 35 7/16,” 2013 – 2014.