Writer and poet John Yau gave a stimulating talk via Instagram Live addressing the theme of the exhibition he curated for our gallery.
Except from his essay: "During the past four years, I was invited to visit various MFA programs as well as be the juror for the “Young Painters Competition” held bi-annually by Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Looking at the work of young artists, I was struck by how many of them were exploring the genres of still life, portraiture and landscape, as well as committing themselves to working from direct observation. After the rise of modern art in America, and a long stretch of time dominated by Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism, Conceptual Art, and Neo-Expressionism, where direct observation was seldom if ever considered, these young artists were working in genres that had largely been sidelined. For these artists, using imagery derived from the mass media and pop culture seemed of little interest. It was as if years of the art world’s practice of promoting the “New,” this generation of artists recognized how quickly the standards of the avant-garde devolved, replaced by imitation and parody. At the same time, choosing to work in well-established genres that have a long and celebrated history is a challenge that requires both courage and self-confidence, especially when the viewer is likely to be up to date on the latest developments in art. Whether working as a sculptor, ceramicist, or a painter, all of the artists in this exhibition are passionate about craft. What distinguishes their craft is how directly they use it to make their work; there is nothing gaudy or superfluous in what they do. Everything they do is in service of their belief that no two people see the world in the same way. This, rather than style, is what makes them original and exciting to me. Time will tell how far each of them will go, but for me all of them are more than ready to have their work in the world."
The seven artists he selected for the exhibition are: Lauren Petrick Brooks Kevin Cobb Abigail Dudley Samuel Alexander Forest Calvin Kim Meghan Murray Lizzie Zelter
"What's New in Still Life, Portrait, and Landscape" curated by JOHN YAU
November 3 - December 23, 2023
On View at Laisun Keane, 460C Harrison Ave C8A Boston MA 02118
laisunkeane.com
Contact: info@laisunkeane.com
