Titled ‘Wonder,’ New York artist Kiki Smith’s latest solo show at Pace Gallery includes a magnified sculpture of hoarfrost (along with a rabbit), jacquard tapestries of a nude in a tree and soaring eagles all of which posit nature as a source of astonishment and pleasure. (In Chelsea at Pace’s 510 West 25th St location through March 29th).
Kiki Smith, installation view of ‘Wonder,’ in foreground, ‘Hoarfrost with Rabbit,’ stainless steel, 2014, at Pace Gallery, March 2014.
In a distinctly contemporary update on Sylvia Sleigh’s iconic ‘70s nude male, Robin F. Williams’ new show ‘Sons of Pioneers’ features men who seem to have opted out of the go-getter mentality of their fathers; non-aggressive poses suggest a passive ideology traditionally identified as female. (At Chelsea’s PPOW Gallery through March 15th).
Robin F Williams, Gold Panner, 72 inch diameter, oil on canvas, 2013.
Though she lives in New York, Lisa Sanditz’ attention is on the country, with a new series of paintings that consider food production and sculptures inspired by Arizona cactus farms. Here, fanciful rainbow cacti in muted colors face off through Styrofoam cups like those that farmers use to protect cactus branches from cold. (At Chelsea’s CRG Gallery through March 15th).
Lisa Sanditz, Rainbow, glazed ceramic, planters, cinderblocks, plywood, rocks, 20 x 22 ½ x 8 inches, 2014.
Late New York artist Candy Jernigan’s ’99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall’ brings to mind an apothecary’s shelves, though tags reading ‘Guinness Dark,’ and ‘Colt 45’ for example, suggest that these are more contemporary medicines, gathered from LES streets (along with the crack vials and cheez doodles in other artworks) in the 80s. (At GreeneNaftali through March 15th).
Candy Jernigan, ’99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall’ (detail), beer, glass vials, packing tags and Plexiglas shelves, 48 x 14 x 3 ½ inches, c. 1988-89.
Leslie Wayne’s new series ‘Paint/Rag’ demonstrates how it’s possible to make a painting made from paint alone. By troweling colors one on top of the other on a surface of wet paint, then folding the sheet, Wayne creates gorgeous drapes of solid color. (At Jack Shainman Gallery’s 24th Street location through March 22nd).
Leslie Wayne, Paint/Rag #31, oil on panel, 14 x 9 x 4 ½ inches, 2013.
