Katherine Bradford in ‘Pictograph’ at Sperone Westwater Gallery

Sperone Westwater’s lively group painting show, Pictograph, considers artworks that communicate in an engagingly ambiguous way. Katherine Bradford’s duo could be embracing, but the title ‘The Argument’ suggests that the washy emanation on the left could be an inner voice or an important influencer to the tie-wearing figure on the right. (On view on the Lower East Side through August 4th).

Katherine Bradford, The Argument, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 48 inches, 2017.

John Ahearn in ‘Feedback’ at Marlborough Contemporary

Marlborough Contemporary’s summer group exhibition ‘Feedback’ includes a wall of painted fiberglass sculptures by John Ahearn & Rigoberto Torres as the show considers collaborative practices in art – in this case between artists and community residents. (On view in Chelsea through August 4th).

John Ahearn & Rigoberto Torres, Naiara, enamel on fiberglass, 65 x 19 x 9 inches, 2006-07.

Nicola Tyson in ‘Somebodies’ at Petzel Gallery

Nicola Tyson’s freewheeling firewood sculptures embody a grace that belies their origins in the woodpile. Stripping each piece of dried firewood of its bark, Tyson assembles fleshy ‘dancing figures’ as disproportionate assemblages of thick and thin segments that bring to mind human bodies, trees and robots. (In ‘Somebodies’ at Petzel Gallery in Chelsea through Aug 4th).

Nicola Tyson, installation view of ‘Dancing Figure #1’ (foreground) and ‘Dancing Figure #2,’ both 2016, apple, elm and maple wood.

Valerie Hegarty in ‘Morph’ at Asya Geisberg Gallery

Valerie Hegarty’s deliciously bizarre watermelon rind takes a bite out of summer at Asya Geisberg Gallery’s fanciful summer group show of ceramic sculpture. (In Chelsea through August 11th).

Valerie Hegarty, Watermelon Rind with Teeth 2, glazed ceramics, 4.5 x 12.5 x 3.5 inches, 2016.

 

Ji Zhou at Klein Sun Gallery

In his photo collages of cityscapes, shot at different times of day from the same vantage point, Bejing-based artist Ji Zhou creates a harmonious view from fragments. (At Klein Sun Gallery in Chelsea through August 3rd).

Ji Zhou, (detail of) Building 2, archival pigment print, 47 ¼ x 92 1/8 inches, 2017.