Julian Schnabel
dal 14/3/2002 al 20/4/2002
Segnalato da
14/3/2002
Julian Schnabel
Gagosian Gallery, New York
He has taken the young girl’s image and created a series of portraits that are parenthetically titled Big Girl Paintings. The first thing one notices about these girls is that they have been stripped of their sight, they have no eyes. Ironically, the artist explains their absence as a means to force the viewer to look at the paintings and not the eyes. The painting’s canvases range from seven to thirteen feet in height.
Gagosian Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of thirteen new paintings
by Julian Schnabel.
In 1987, Schnabel visited a thrift store where he acquired several small paintings;
one in particular stuck in the artist’s mind a painting depicting a "classic"
American female youth: blonde, cute, clean-cut. In 2001, this painting would
become the foundation for Schnabel’s new body of work.
Julian Schnabel has taken the young girl’s image and created a series of portraits
that are parenthetically titled Big Girl Paintings. The first thing one notices about
these girls is that they have been stripped of their sight, they have no eyes.
Ironically, the artist explains their absence as a means to force the viewer to look
at the paintings and not the eyes.
The painting’s canvases range from seven to thirteen feet in height. Their
monumental size envelops the spectator and fills our peripheral vision. The
surfaces of the canvas are heavily worked. The medium of paint and wax
creates a luscious visceral surface. This technique lies in stark contrast to the
lack of sentimentality of the imagery, creating an unexpected harmony.
Julian Schnabel’s work is included in major collections such as the Eli Broad
Collection, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Tate Gallery, London and
Centre Georges Pompidou.
This suite of paintings will be exhibited concurrently at Gagosian Gallery, Chelsea,
in New York and Gagosian Gallery in Los Angeles.
A fully illustrated catalogue with an essay by Robert Rosenblum will accompany
the exhibitions.
Image: JULIAN SCHNABEL Untitled (Girl with no eyes), 2001 Oil and wax on canvas in artist's frame
Julian Schnabel: Big Girl Paintings
New York: Thursday, March 15 Saturday, April 20, 2002
Reception for the artist: Thursday, March 14, 2002 6 - 8pm
Los Angeles: Thursday, March 21 - Saturday, May 4, 2002
Reception for the artist: Thursday, March 21, 2002 6 - 8pm
Gagosian Gallery
Chelsea 555 West 24th Street New York, NY 10011
Hours: tues-sat 10-6