El Anatsui at The Brooklyn Museum

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El Anatsui’s shimmering, undulating wall sculptures made of repurposed bottle caps are uniformly stunning, but previous experience of individual pieces won’t prepare you for the Ghana-based artist’s huge installation in the Brooklyn Museum’s fifth floor galleries.  Titled ‘Gli’ (Wall), sheets of aluminum and copper wire materials were inspired by visits to walled cities of Berlin, Jerusalem and Notsie (in Togo) but offer a delicate and diaphanous take on the idea of barriers.  (Through August 4th).  

El Anatsui, ‘Gli (Wall),’ aluminum and copper wire, 2010.

Martin Roth at Louis B. James

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Austrian artist Martin Roth’s interest in nature has led him to raise ducklings in his studio and grow grass on Persian rugs for past projects.  His latest show at Louis B. James Gallery on the Lower East Side has a surprise twist (spoiler alert!) in which a bonsai tree upstairs is nurtured by the live, recorded sounds of birds, fish and these lively crickets in the basement gallery.  (Through April 13th.)  

Martin Roth, ‘Untitled (Bonsai)’ installation view at Louis B. James Gallery, March 2013.

Suzan Frecon at David Zwirner Gallery

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What does it take for a minimal painting to stand on its own strengths, with no explanation or apparent associations to build a context for understanding?  New York-based Suzan Frecon’s abstractions ask this question, offering pure color, shape and surface to absorbing effect.   (At David Zwirner’s 525 West 19th St location through March 23rd).

Suzan Frecon, composition in four colors, trial 3, oil on panel, 2009.

Thomas Nozkowski at Pace Gallery

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“With Nozkowski, a good, slow look-’n’-solve is part of the fun,” Tyler Green of Modern Art Notes has observed in response to Nozkowski’s puzzle-like paintings.  Packed with familiar yet alien forms, they translate the everyday world into abstraction. (At Pace Gallery’s 508 West 25th Street location through March 23rd).  

Thomas Nozkowski, Untitled (9-22), oil on linen on panel, 2012.

Dan Flavin at David Zwirner Gallery

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David Zwirner Gallery opened its new five-story, 30,000 square foot gallery with the perfect artwork to highlight architecture by Annabelle Selldorf.  Eight-foot square pieces from Dan Flavin’s 1966-71 ‘European Couples’ series (titled after Europeans he considered influential) turn light into an artistic medium, washing every white wall in color.  (At David Zwirner’s 537 West 20th Street location through March 16).  

Dan Flavin, untitled (to Janet and Allen), pink fluorescent light, 1966-71.