Miranda Lichtenstein at Elizabeth Dee Gallery

The ‘you’ in this photo by New York artist Miranda Lichtenstein points in several directions; most obvious is a shaming of the plastic bag user, more concerned with convenience than environmental responsibility. It also leads away from Lichtenstein herself, considering that the image is a manipulation of a work by artist Josh Blackwell, whose practice involves layering and sewing on plastic carrier bags. It’s hard to tell where one artist’s work begins and the other ends, but both come out ahead – Lichtenstein for her generosity in sharing her platform and Blackwell for his creativity. (At Elizabeth Dee Gallery in Chelsea through Dec 19th).

 Miranda Lichtenstein, You!, archival pigment print, 40 x 26 ½ inches, 2015.

Mary Heilmann at 303 Gallery

Mary Heilmann’s paintings lead viewers down the road, but a scattering of brightly colored chairs designed by the artist and installed in Chelsea’s 303 Gallery invites us to stay a while. Titled Maricopa Highway, this painting ignores the view to either side of this scenic California roadway, instead taking us straight into a washy blue heavens. (Through Dec 19th).

 Mary Heilmann, Maricopa Highway, acrylic on canvas, 42 x 42 x 1 ½ inches, 2015.

Cynthia Daignault at Lisa Cooley Gallery

From rural barns to suburban houses, flowing rivers to barren desert, Cynthia Daignault pictures it all in her epic 360 piece painting project ‘Light Atlas,’ now on view at Lower East Side gallery Lisa Cooley. Born of a desire to add to the number of women who’ve produced art and literature from on country-wide travels, Daignault’s project is a surprisingly tranquil picture of the country. (Through Dec 20th).

 Cynthia Daignault, installation view of Light Atlas at Lisa Cooley Gallery, oil on linen, overall dimensions variable, in 360 parts, 8 x 10 inches each, 2015.

Jean Tinguely at Barbara Gladstone Gallery

Step on an inviting red floor pedal at Barbara Gladstone Gallery and you’ll be rewarded by the clanking and whirring of one of Swiss artist Jean Tinguely’s kinetic sculptures, rarely seen in New York. Here, twirling feathers and bright lights offer a momentary carnival-like dose of lights, color and motion. (In Chelsea through Dec 19th).

Jean Tinguely, Untitled (Lamp), iron, feathers, light fixtures, light bulbs and electric motor, 33 ½ x 41 x 27 1/8 inches, 1982.

Nathan Vincent at Emmanuel Fremin Gallery

At three inches high, toy soldiers aren’t that menacing. At three feet, the relationship changes. Nathan Vincent’s heavily armed knit and crocheted army figures go to war in Chelsea’s Emmanuel Fremin Gallery to eerie effect, their material inviting cozy thoughts, their weaponry and child-like size eliciting alarm. (Through Dec 31st).

 Nathan Vincent, installation view of ‘Let’s Play War’ at Emmanuel Fremin Gallery, Dec 2015.