Despite ceramicist Peter Voulkos’ huge influence on contemporary ceramic art, New York hasn’t been treated to a solo presentation of his work since 1997. Through this week, 57th Street gallery Franklin Parrasch breaks the dry spell with a sampling of work from the 50s to the 90s from a single private collection. (Through Nov 23rd).
Peter Voulkos, Iron Head, ceramic, 1990.
Known for making artwork relating to lesser-known facts about historically important figures, Brooklyn & Philadelphia artist Terry Adkins turns his sights to George Washington Carver & Yves Klein in his Lower East Side show. Using apple pickers to refer to Carver’s efforts to move away from the ubiquity of cotton, and blown glass to recall Yves Klein’s fiery, transformative performances, Adkins invites us to read meaning into his subtly reworked histories. (At Salon94 Bowery and Salon 94 Freemans on the Lower East Side through Jan 11th).
Terry Adkins, installation view of Nenuphar at Salon94 Bowery, November, 2013. Sculpture in foreground: Terry Adkins, Harvest Montgomery, blown glass, apple picker, fiberglass and aluminum pole, 2013.
Though created from paint, this folksy character’s shirt and pants have the texture of rough-hewn fabric, perfectly in keeping with his Johnny-Appleseed-like barefooted nature wanderer persona. By New York painter Benjamin Degen and titled ‘Kleos,’ it suggests that like the ancient Greeks, this home-grown oddball is also seeking a glory of sorts. (At Chelsea’s Susan Inglett Gallery through Dec 7th).
Benjamin Degen, Kleos, oil on canvas over panel, 2013.
Rod Penner’s tiny photo realist renderings of desolate scenes from the American rural landscape summon nostalgia and intrigue in equal parts. (At Ameringer, McEnery, Yohe in Chelsea through Nov 23rd).
Rod Penner, Ranch View Motel/Vaughn, NM, acrylic on canvas, 2013.
Iran-born, London-based artist Shirazeh Houshiary offers twisting columns of anodized blocks as a contrast to the minutely detailed, veil-like patterns covering abstract paintings like the diptych in the background here. Like twisters or stepping feet, they literalize an unidentified and unseen force. (At Lehmann Maupin’s Lower East Side location through Dec 28th).
Shirazeh Houshiary, Eddy, anodized aluminum, 2013 (foreground) and Echo, pencil, pigments and black aquacryl on canvas and aluminum, 2013 (background).
