Scott Goodwillie here…
Like a sampler box of fine chocolates, “realism invitationals” – which are offered up by a number of galleries around the nation each year – provide a window onto the representational art scene and a preview of what some of the finest artists are doing. The current exhibit at the Klaudia Marr Gallery in Santa Fe is a stunning offering of some known names and some not so well known. Klaudia has one of the keenest eyes in the field, and has been putting together her annual Realism Invitational since the mid 90’s. Over that time, she has garnered herself a highly respected reputation among galleries and artists alike.

Among over 40 artists on view are several standouts portraying unique takes on the nude. Steven Kenny’s work has a magic realist underpinning with crisp, detailed rendering and a symbolic relationship with the natural world. His paintings work well compositionally as well as graphically and the colors are richly saturated. Emilia Faroâ’s watercolors remind me of a somewhat kinder, but still quirky Egon Schiele-like. And Kaelen Green presents a nicely rendered graphite drawing morphing human and animal.

Most awe inspiring however are the large scale oils from Brooklyn based artist, Margaret Bowland. Like a visceral hit to the solar plexus, her imagery provides the “wow” factor in the show.

Margaret Bowland: Olympia #7, 2007

Even though she is an instructor at the New York Academy of Art, I hadn’t heard of her until this exhibit and I encourage you to visit the artist’s website for some of the strongest artwork I’ve seen in some time, as well as her description of the models and her general philosophy regarding subject matter.

The exhibit is on view at the Klaudia Marr Gallery
from October 17th – November 30th
668 Canyon Road
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Phone: 505-988-2100

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Last week, The Great Nude.TV headed down to SoHo to visit The Painting Center to check out the group exhibition of David Carbone, Nancy Grimes, and Patrick Webb. All artists that have dedicated themselves to the 20th Century American traditions of personal symbolism and magical realism.

Don’t miss the show at The Painting Center until October 25th, 2008.

You can also check this video out on youtube.

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Scott here:

A gallery which has long championed the figurative arts in New York City is Gallery Henoch in Chelsea.

The current Sharon Sprung show defines that commitment wonderfully. A well known painter who has been exhibiting since the mid seventies, Sprung’s work is at once beautiful and quietly powerful. Seeing her paintings in reproduction doesn’t give you the true feel of her technique. The surfaces are actually quite tactile, which owes to the fact that she paints a good deal of each work with a palette knife. Not in the usual way palette knife painting is thought of, in fact she has developed a more nuanced approach which initially seems like pulling a brush with paint over a layer which has yet to fully dry. When done in the opaque areas, this enhances the flesh tones by catching more light and reflecting it back to the viewer.

Sharon Sprung - Harlequin

Sharon Sprung’s work can be seen until October 4th – at Gallery Henoch , 555 W. 25th Street , New York, New York 10001, 917-305-0003. Also check out her website, for more paintings not featured in the solo exhibit.

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Scott here:

It is hard to imagine that the long summer nights of August are coming to close. But alas, here we are, Labor Day is around the corner, the Fall gallery showings will soon ramp up, and The Great Nude will be pushing into full throttle.

Rounding out our fourth and final Girls of Summer blog is painter Jeremy Lipking. The paintings of Jeremy Lipking are held in high regard by many atelier trained artists. His handling of paint is reminiscent of the work of John Singer Sargent and is able to translate the time of day by the way light falls on and around the skin of his models.

Further striking is how mature his work is for a fairly young painter. At 30 years old, Lipking has come to represent a new, up-and-coming generation of representational artists. If there were ever a painting that captured and solidified the essence of a waning summer season it would be this:

Lipking is represented by Arcadia Fine Arts in SoHo.

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Scott again with part 3 of TheGreatNude.tv’s “Girls of Summer.”

Years back Eric Zener’s paintings back focused on people on metaphorical journeys of the self. His images were darker, more brooding, such as a lone businessman on traversing unknown expanses while walking on a high-wire. Zener’s work then exploded with color, vibrancy and the movement and freedom of swimming.

Emerging (2005)

While I personally like brooding artwork, this stylistic change was dazzling and his use of brushwork defining fractured reflections still fascinates. Lately he has been experimenting with images and mixed media that are very graphic, some of the oils seem to be almost screen printed. But what is really impressive, if an artist can make what is already jewel – like even more mouth watering and lush, is his use of resin in the painting process. Slick it is – in much contemporary painting these days so it’s easy to say he’s just riding the wave.

Forever (2007)

I feel it really does intensify what is already there and adds a new dimension to the finished piece. While he has also been incorporating photography for some time, I have yet to see it. However a new group of works currently showing at Gallery Henoch this summer promises a combination of painting, photography, ink, resin, as well as gold and silver leaf.

Eric is a California native, born in 1966. With all he does I hope he gets out to get some sun. His work can be seen at Gallery Henoch, New York City from June 13th through August 30th 2008. His official website is EricZener.com

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Lisa Bartoluzzi, She: Wisdom Series (1998)

Scott here:

This week, the art world was surprised by the unveiling of the identity of Banksy. Banksy, known as a bold guerrilla artist, made a name for himself through satirical and macabre street art that carried his witty social criticism and messages directly to the people. He once said said “modern art is a disaster area” and his role as an anonymous graffiti artist certainly bolstered his Art-World Robin Hood personae. The “unmasking” of Banksy however, should not distract from what makes his work, and the public’s embrace of his work, so unique.

Many of Banksy’s work utilizes the naked body to create an intentionally dramatic effect. For example, this work of a husband coming home to discover his wife’s infidelity, appears on the wall of a sexual health clinic in Bristol. Aside from the humor of the image, which on its own invites narrative, the context of its placement is critical to understanding the full meaning of the social commentary that Banksy typically imbues into his graffiti.

A far more powerful work of Banksy’s is a piece called “Napalm.” The work depicts a vulnerable naked child, screaming, burned by napalm while being happily escorted by Mickey Mouse and Ronald McDonald. Banksy uses imagery of the Vietnam War as a counterweight to the American projection of consumerism. The depiction of naked body here is used as a sharp commentary to evoke our most exposed state.

Whatever you think of him or his work, Banksy has effectively challenged the public into engaging in a dialog with his work. What makes his work so compelling is the immediacy of his graphic imagery as it relates to the human condition. Banky’s work is primal, biting, and naked. He has created a new cultural iconography for the masses without alluding to authorship. It is just this satirical iconography which is his trademark and authorship. Eschewing the limelight has over the years brought the limelight to him. Only time will tell if this limelight will change the reception and the subsequent dialog that his work receives from the public.

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Scott Goodwillie here:

Ah, summertime at TheGreatNude.tv! My thoughts, all artistically pure of course, turn to sun, water and nudes on the beach. Well, perhaps not so much around New York City. So, we’ll settle for some great summertime art which can be found at your local and national galleries and venues. I’ve chosen to focus on artists that use the season of summer as a common denominator. Make no mistake, these are serious artists, very well developed in their craft. Their chosen motifs have found abundant success among collectors and museums alike. Their use of the figure within their choice of motifs and colorful themes make these artists’ works an appropriate summertime excursion.

MEL RAMOS: Part 1 of 4

When you see a painting of a nude woman riding a Toblerone or a pack of Life Savers, it could only mean one thing. Mel Ramos! While I could go on with any number of sugary analogies I’ll spare you. With titles like “You Get More Salami With Modigliani” and ‘Milk Dud Dolly‘, pin-ups have never been this fun or more kitsch. Ramos tosses the classical tonal range out the window. His works are truly Pop and while the pieces are anatomically convincing and well rendered, the colors are vibrant, and playful. There is a sense of coolness even in warmer toned works which comes about due to the graphic nature, hard edges and high contrast. This is Ramos’ signature style and affirms him as a master of the genre.

Ramos was born in 1935 in Sacramento, California and divides his time between Oakland, California and Horta de San Juan, Spain. At 73 years old, he still produces work with a humor and innocence that belies his age. He will be exhibiting at the Louis Meisel Gallery, New York City during Winter 2008.

Additional info:
Mel Ramos Official Site
Mel Ramos: Nude and Pin-up Prints

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