Julie Gross, Her-O, 48" x 48", oil on linen
Mary Obering, Quartet, 42" x 84" x 3", egg tempera & gold leaf on gesso panel
Marthe Keller, Gelb Greem Girl, 58" x 59", acrylic on canvas
Joanne Mattera, Uttar 229, 18" x 18", encaustic on panelLarge group shows are notoriously uneven and sprawling, reflecting the difficulty of assembling more than a few artists with a shared sensibility. A remarkable exception is the new show called “No Chromophobia” at OK Harris. Curated by Richard Witter, this show focuses on color as content in abstract painting, and brings together thirty three painters in a stunning array of discerning concept and sensuous chroma. I do not know all the artists in the show, but it appears that there are no careering youngsters here. This is a group of seasoned mid-career painters who have developed their respective processes through years of rigorous refinement. There is a conspicuous absence of irony – these artists are engaged in painting not as pastiche, but as a deeply intelligent exploration of visual and tactile properties. In addition to the focus on color, the show is unified and driven by reductive form, and what could be described as succinct construction -- delicate balancing of the analytical and the sensuous -- surfaces and objects that are beautifully and specifically crafted, infused with sagacious knowledge of the medium and the language, with absolutely no fluff – direct painting, deceptive in its simplicity. Looking around the galleries from a distance, this show is a feast for the eyes as the vibrant hues resonate from one piece to the next around the rooms. Up close, the distinctiveness of each artist’s approach presents one rich encounter after another. Anyone who really loves painting would be hard pressed to find a more satisfying group exhibition.
