The Bernarducci Meisel Gallery is one of New York’s premier galleries for representational approaches to the figure. They’re always a great gallery to pop into any time of the year. Its been four years since we’ve seen a large exhibition of Bernardo Torrens paintings at this gallery, but on October 1st, New Paintings opens and will remain on exhibit until October 31st, featuring works created by Torrens between 2002-2009.

A master of realist technique with a tendency towards a monochrome palate, Torrens focuses crisply on the surface of his subjects, their anatomical details rendered in an absolutely convincing fashion. Some of his works are introspective compositions, portraits of people we feel we may know, others are more compositional, the model’s pose as the topic. In all of Torrens’ paintings, the technical mastery of the works themselves is an enjoyable thing to witness. Check out Bernardo Torrens this October when you’re passing through Midtown, NYC!

The Bernarducci Meisel Gallery is located at 37 West 57th St, New York, NY.

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"Laura I" 2009 acrylic on wood 25.5 x 20"

"Laura II" 2009 acrylic on wood 25.5 x 51.2"

"Katey I" 2009 acrylic on wood 19.75 x 18.125"

Last week TheGreatNude.tv was able to preview some of mixed-media artist Ronald Ventura‘s work at the Tyler Rollins Gallery in Chelsea. A Singapore native and established artist in Southeast Asia; this is Rollins first U.S. exhibition. In his upcoming show Metaphysics of Skin running September 17 – October 31, Ventura plays on the interaction between physicality and imagination, perception and creativity. His works seem to bend the concept of portraiture into something that feels personal and quite alien at the same time. The works are worthy of detailed analysis as they are very well painted and worthy of lengthy study.

The Tyler Rollins Gallery is located at 529 West 20th St, 10W New York, NY

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Echo, 2009 oil on canvas, 48 X 36 in.

Second Skin, 2009 oil on canvas 84 X 60 in.

Rainbow for Nothing, 2009 oil on canvas 48 X 36 in.

Mother's Mark, 2009 oil on canvas 48 X 36 in.

[This is the second Post in our new series on TheGreatNude.tv exploring the use of the Nude Figure in Advertising. Click to view archive.]

Here’s a classic pose of the nude female form as used by The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. One can almost imagine this as an Aphrodite from the Greek artist Praxiteles. This is a perfect example of the use of the figure to project grace and balance – perfection in the eyes of the ancient Greeks. This also projects human dignity and the other aspects of female beauty, which in the case of the advertiser The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, makes perfect sense. This is a strong advertisement, with great art direction.

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The Breast Cancer Research Foundation using a Classic Pose

The Jenkins Johnson Gallery has always featured wonderfully talented figurative arts and the gallery’s themed shows are always popular openings. Their upcoming show titled On Paper is no exception, and we are thrilled to see so much attention given to art works created by hand the old fashioned way. Many of the nicest pieces in this show are simply drawings – ink washes or graphite on paper featuring the human hand at it’s best.

Several works from the talented hand of Juliette Aristedes are worthy of attention, her atmospheric sketches feeling quite like old master works. These are very expressive drawings, the model nearly comes alive out of the looseness. Michael Bergt’s dreamy compositions are very interesting, evocative of Persian/Eastern erotica from the 19th century. His lounging, longing, twisting figures are set against black backgrounds that modernize these familiar scenarios.

In a quieter vein, Kim Frohsin’s sketches are loose, free, open-hearted expressions of the female form in various states of activity. And Philip Levine’s seated nudes are simple, linear compositions that present a contemplative, quieter view of the figure. In contrast, Kimberly Trowbridge’s slashing style evokes the energy of psychic motion to the figure. Finally, Wade Reynolds presents several figures “as landscapes”, in his signature technique, which has become a standard of quality for many fans of the academic approach to the figure.

The Jenkins Johnson Gallery is located at 521 W. 26th St, New York, NY
To see more of these images online, visit Jenkins Johnson Gallery online.

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Juliette Aristides, Back, 2007, charcoal on paper 26" x 16.5"

Kimberly Trowbridge, Two Figures, 2006, graphite charcoal and collage on paper, 16'' x 18''

Kim Froshin, M.Y. with Jug, 1994, graphite on paper, 15.75'' x 11.25''

Wade Reynolds, Figure as Landscape #1, (preliminary), 2003, prismacolor pencil on tone board, 19'' x 24''

Gallery Henoch, known for the diversity in its representational artists, is currently featuring Sharon Sprung, a prominent figurative artist in New York. Her work stands beside numerous other approaches to the figure, but commands the attention of the room with her pensive nudes. This Chelsea gallery always has wonderful painters of the figure in their stable, so make sure to visit this gallery regularly.

Gallery Henoch
555 W. 25th St. New York, NY

See our previous Post on Sharon Sprung from 2008.

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The Sari, Oil/Panel, 38'' x 48''

CC, Oil/Panel, 40'' x 48''

[This is the first Post in our new series on TheGreatNude.tv exploring the use of the Nude Figure in Advertising. Check back for more posts in several days.]

The cover of Time Out New York‘s recent Museum Issue featured a modern take on the famous statue, Discobolus of Myron. Also known as The Discus Thrower, the original work has been lost but numerous recreations have been made since the original’s creation in 450 B.C. The earliest known copy now sits in the Natural Museum of Rome. Discobolus revivals have altered in medium (the original was done in bronze), size, and in some cases with variations on musculature and facial features. In all of its incarnations, The Discus Thrower is still one of the most recognizable art works in Western History.

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Discobolus of Myron. Also known as The Discus Thrower

This year the New York Academy of Art holds its 18th Annual Take Home a Nude Event. Celebrities and prominent members of the New York art community always attend this showing of some of the city’s finest figurative work. As with last year’s auction, there is a wide variety of work, and artists will be showing off their skills, showcasing their techniques and walking those interested through the process of creating figurative art. The 2009 Event will be held Wednesday, October 7. For more information email Katie Albert at [email protected]

Edward Schmidt, Faculty, NYAA

To see a video from last year’s show click here.

Liev Schreiber and Justin Timberlake at the NYAA's Take Home a Nude Event 2008.

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This being the closing week of the summer show NAKED!; the figurative arts show TheGreatNude.tv wanted to take the opportunity to make sure this show was not missed. The Paul Kasmin Gallery, located in Chelsea, is showing a series of figurative works spanning a time period of over four hundred years. Although finding a commonality between the classic and ultra-modern works might seem unlikely, the gallery accomplishes it with a range of fun, serious and inspirational works.

The gallery is located at 239 10th Avenue New York, NY. Hurry to see this show though; it closes September 19th.

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Anne-Louis Girodet-Trioson Le Sommeil d'Endymion, oil on canvas 14 7/8'' x 18 1/4''

David Lachapelle, Nature's Naked Loveliness, digital color c-print 97'' x 72''

Duncan Hannah, Crazy Horse Revue Dancer, oil on canvas 18'' x 14''

Mel Ramos, Rita Ritz, oil on linen 39 1/4'' x 28 3/4''

Theodoor van Thulden, Time Revealing Truth, oil on canvas 58 3/4'' x 42 1/2''

Labor Day Weekend
Jeffrey Wiener

It was late in the afternoon on the last day of the Labor Day Weekend, I was perusing the artisan’s booths at the New Paltz Arts and Crafts Fair with my family. It was a nice pause to a hectic weekend, and a reflective moment after such an arduous summer. We have all been working harder. The sun was setting behind the mountains, the fair was winding down, and many of the artists seemed eager to break down their tents and head home.

I was looking for figurative artists, as usual. Sometimes you can find them behind the crafts that they sell. I have an empathy for the talented artists who also have an entrepreneurial spirit in their hearts. Many of them can be found working the arts and crafts festivals throughout the summer, regardless of the economy, all the while producing marvelous bodies of figurative works.

It’s important to look outside the big cities for our inspirations. Here’s a sampling of the Figurative Arts I found up in the Catskill Mountains this weekend. I’ll bring you more of the works of these artists later this month on TheGreatNude.tv, so SUBSCRIBE to receive a notice about it.

Peter Robinson-Smith creates remarkable, 3-dimensional sculptures from metal wire.

Diane Kline's quick charcoal sketches are fluid and energetic.

Helen Hosking's small statues are jewel-like and peaceful.