I think Deitch Projects has to be my most favorite gallery. They consistently have interesting, cutting edge, fun shows that seem to rotate frequently. Currently its Matt Greene, Pictures of Women. Multilayered paintings and collage of female figures in a refreshingly nonexploitative way. "It is his hope to address the feminist critique of the male gaze while acknowledging its existence. By removing specific details of individuality from the subjects in the paintings, Greene seeks to study the role of looking in human sexuality with the objective eye of a botanist in the field." I love the geometric shapes, the bright colors on black, and the layering of wax and paint all making for a rich, rewarding viewing experience.
From the press release:
Greene presents large-scale works that further his investigations into the connections between sexual fetish, the female figure, and forms of nature. Asserting that painting occupies an inherently ambiguous space between fantasy and material, Greene's landscapes depict environments in which multilayered images superimpose themselves over the experience of reality. Faceless androgynous figures engage in ritualized behavior in spaces resembling holograph viewing rooms from science fiction; gridded chambers into which fantasies are projected. These works incorporate drawing and photography interchangeably and indifferently; the heavily textured surfaces that emerge are dripped with thick coatings of varnish that trap the images like insects in amber.
And some kool street art down in the Lower East Side.
