Karin Sander at Carolina Nitsch

by Merrily KerrDon't Miss, Features & Commissions, Hottest ShowPosted on Comments are Disabled

Known for her 3-D printed human figures, Karin Sander’s ‘Kitchen Pieces’ first offer a puzzle – is the fruit real or meticulously made?  Sander isn’t beating Zeuxis, the ancient Greek artist who painted grapes so believably that the birds tried to eat them.  The grapes and other fruit and veg attached to the wall with specially made nails are real.  The process of searching for evidence of this –which is surprisingly difficult to discern – is the takeaway. (On view at Carolina Nitsch through April.)

Karin Sander, Grapes, grapes, stainless steel nail, dimensions variable, with signed certificate housed in a custom box, 2012/18.

Claudia Wieser at Marianne Boesky Gallery

by Merrily KerrDon't Miss, Features & Commissions, Hottest Show, Inside ViewPosted on Comments are Disabled

Berlin-based artist Claudia Wieser takes the 1976 BBC drama ‘I, Claudius’ as inspiration for a gorgeous exhibition featuring wallpaper printed with towering busts from antiquity and a series of refined painted vessels atop a large ceramic tiled pedestal.  Rather than tell a story or suggest particular meanings, Wieser evokes elegance and opulence using low-brow materials like wood and mirror-polished steel, perhaps a parallel to politically corrupt Roman rulers whose culture non-the-less produced prized artwork.  (On view at Marianne Boesky Gallery in Chelsea through April 14th).

Claudia Wieser, installation view of ‘Chapter’ at Marianne Boesky Gallery, March 2018.

Stan Douglas at David Zwirner Gallery

by Merrily KerrDon't Miss, Features & Commissions, Hottest ShowPosted on Comments are Disabled

A faintly reflected man in a white shirt and tie looks on while a hand fondles jewels in the window of a looted shop in photographer Stan Douglas’ careful staging of a hypothetical New York City blackout.  Strangely calm, the scene suggests looting as leisure activity and – given the man’s gaze – as potential romantic encounter.  (On view at David Zwirner Gallery’s 525 West 19th Street location through April 7th).

Stan Douglas, Jewels, digital chromogenic print mounted on Dibond aluminum, 36 x 36 inches, 2017.

Thomas Demand at Matthew Marks Gallery

by Merrily KerrDon't Miss, Features & Commissions, Hottest ShowPosted on Comments are Disabled

Thomas Demand’s meticulous paper sculptures from his ‘Dailies’ series pay homage to ordinary objects that were encountered, considered extraordinary for a moment, photographed, then forgotten.  After reconstructing a scene shot on his phone as a paper sculpture, Demand prints the image as a vivid dye transfer print.  Positioned on Demand’s wall of anonymous lockers, the banal becomes something wondrous again. (On view in Chelsea at Matthew Marks Gallery through April 7th). 

Thomas Demand, Daily #30, framed dye transfer print, 26 ½ x 21 ½ inches, 2017 over Locker, UV print on nonwoven wallpaper, dimensions variable, 2017.

Kay Rosen at Alexander Gray Associates

by Merrily KerrDon't Miss, Features & Commissions, Hottest ShowPosted on Comments are Disabled

Often political, never shy, Kay Rosen’s text-based wall art is bold and outspoken at Alexander Gray Associates.  Just four letters speak volumes in this installation titled ‘White House v. America.’  (On view in Chelsea through April 7th). 

Kay Rosen, White House v. America, paint on wall, dimensions variable, 2018.