Niki de Saint Phalle (1930 – 2002) might be best known for her brightly-colored sculptures of voluptuous, dancing women, which she called Les Nana, but she had a rich career that spanned a variety of mediums. In addition to painting, film-making, and illustration of children’s books, she created unique sculptural furniture, including a series incorporating figures of snakes or serpents, to which this wall Mirror (Le Miroir) and Black Armchair (Fauteuil Noir), both circa 1980, belong.
Gallerist Eric Allouche (Opera Gallery) has reopened his now eponymous gallery with a pop-up space on Wooster Street after leaving Opera/Allouche’s long-held previous address on Spring Street, where we attended many, many exhibits over the span of a few short years. The Wooster Street address is just temporary, until Allouche can find an ideal new home in which to showcase the works of his cache of represented contemporary pop artists, such as Ron English and FAILE. A low-key opening reception took place last Thursday and fans of the gallery were more than happy to have a destination to draw them in from the newly-arrived polar vortex holding adventure-seeking Manhattanites in its tight grip.
FAILE: Fox Hunt Go Get Em
The current exhibit is a bit of a ‘warm up’ or re-boot, featuring both new and older works in Allouche’s collection. If you were fortunate enough to attend last summer’s FAILE exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, then the above collage will look familiar to you, as will the bright Neon sign in the gallery’s front window, which was included in the BAST/FAILE Arcade collaboration.
Fox Hunt Go Get Em Detail
Also on display are the Japanese Manga-influenced works by Jessica Lichtenstein, including the title piece from her Afterglow exhibit seen previously at Gallery nine5.
Afterglow Detail
Lichtenstein’s works are recognizable for the flocks of tiny naked ladies in her images; which, from a distance, can easily be mistaken for blossom clusters. Clever.
Jessica Lichtenstein: War (2013) Edition of 3
She has also this piece in the show, which is populated with hyper-sexualized, semi-clad females cavorting on WMDs. War is Hell.
Rafa Macarron, Caos
Spanish artist Rafa Macarron has several of his mix-media large canvases in the show. His cartoonish drawings are lots of fun.
Caos, Detail
Ron English, All American Lady Lick
Kid Zoom, Rose
Dustin Yellin, Psychogeography Study, Matter
The gallery has a small rear space, where they managed to stage a surprising number of pieces, including these two glass/acrylic sculptures by Dustin Yellin.
Dustin Yellin, Zulu Jungle Cave No. 1
Andy Warhol, Map of Eastern USSR Missile Bases
And of course, the Holy Trinity of late, NYC-based pop artists, Warhol, Haring and Basquiat are all represented.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled Drawings
Allouche Gallery Pop-Up Space is Located at 148 Wooster Street, Between Price and Houston, in Soho, NYC. Permanent Location Coming Soon!
Geoffrey and I were trying to figure out why the address of 115 Spring Street sounded so familiar, and yet neither one of us could recall having been to the Allouche Gallery, which resides at that address, prior to the Paul Insect exhibit, the opening reception of which we attended on Saturday night. Once we walked in the door, however, we recognized the space as having formerly been the home of Opera Gallery — which, who even knew that it had closed? Obviously, not us. RIP Opera Gallery. I do not miss you that much. Continue reading Paul Insect, 2033: Original Works Created in 2014 at Allouche Gallery→
It’s not even June, but it already feels like the galleries are winding down for a summer of dormancy. Opera Gallery in Soho just launched a group show, Contemporary Masters, that contains a few interesing pieces but had a surprisingly low Wow Factor. Here are a few pieces that stood out for me.
Keith Haring, Untitled
It’s always fun to see a Warhol and a Haring. Their stuff never gets old to me.
Arman’s Marmelade De Porcelaine Chinoise
French artist/sculptor Arman, perhaps best known for his deconstructed violins, has this awesome piece made with broken china suspended in plexiglass. Really gorgeous.
Sliced Violins With Acrylic Paint on Canvas By Arman
David Mach’s Standing Gorilla Greets You!
Sculptor David Mach has a few interesting works in the show, including two sculptures made from wire coat hangers. This towering Standing Gorilla is in the front window but I could not get a good shot of it from the street. It’s pretty cool though.
Manolo Valdes Cabeza Con Mariposas Plateada
If you’ve been to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx then you’ve seen the seven gigantic replicas of the statue above, by Spanish artist Manolo Valdes, scattered about the grounds. The title translates to “Head with Silver Butterflies.” I like it.
Alexander Calder Stripes and Stripes
When I think of Calder, I mostly assosciate his name with playful, minimalist mobiles. This painting by him is lovely.
Opera Gallery is Located at 115 Spring Street in Soho, New York, NY 10012.
While Late Confessions, the new exhibit by identical twin graffiti artists How & Nosm, opened over two weeks ago, it took that long for us to make it to the exhibit due to NYC’s recent streak of inclement weather and circumstances beyond our control. We must “confess,” however, that it was worth the wait, because this “must see” show is nothing short of fantastic! Continue reading Jonathan LeVine Gallery Creates Pop Up Location for How & Nosm’s Late Confessions→
