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.

Subscribe to TheGreatNude.tv

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''

I recently saw a small exhibit of delicate male nudes by of Paul P that were holding their own down in Chelsea, NYC earlier this year. Canadian born  of Paul P (1977) lives in Paris and is gaining attention as an artist. He has done numerous exhibitions since his first in 2001. Paul P’s works make excellent use of his media, blurring the line between charcoal, pencil sketch and water color, conveying movement and strong color to subject relationships throughout his pieces in the process.

Untitled-2007

A byproduct of the late twentieth century and prominent in the gay art community, his work is characteristic of those genres. Many of his figures, generally nude males of disputable age, are posed in overtly sexually posed that are dark and somber in nature. The claustrophobic undertone, seen through facial expression and body language, creates an overall sense of oppression. His ‘Untitled’ shown below suggests two persons in a sexual positioning - but no one looks happy here. I often look for universal qualities of the human condition in figurative works, but Paul P’s work seems aimed directly at/to the Gay Community.

There are of course romantic elements in Paul P’s work. However, even where Love is concerned, the artist seems to be catering to a cultural fascination; at the very least showing a strong attention to the young male form, beautiful even though the use of the figure seems politicized in the case of Paul P.

Subscribe to TheGreatNude.tv