Chelsea Gallery Thursday Openings (12.19.24) + Archive
This week we're working to regain our footing in the aftermath of finals
Firstly, thank you to all my readers who held on while I finished up my semester! I missed writing, and I'm happy to get back to our regular scheduled program, our weekly NYC art tidbits are back♡ ⋆｡˚
This week will be a bit different from our usual format, I've built up a mini-archive of shows of interest, and will slowly be adding them to our newsletter until we're fully back up-to-date. Due to the holidays, there were not many openings this Thursday, and I did end up in Chelsea.
Here's the list of galleries I checked out this week:
From our mini archive:
Andrew Marcus
This week Ceres’ group show titled, “Exposure: 4” caught my eye. This show is the the fourth and final iteration of Exposure. Exposure: 4, is one week long exhibitions, intended to bring a diverse group of artists to Chelsea.
This cycle of artists included Lisa Fledman, Catherine Janszky, Erin Karp, Jack Maiorino, Andrew Marcus, Esther Mizrahi, Jane Nelson, Mitchell Rodbell, Aleksandra Scepenoviv, and Laura Stevens.
The artist Andrew Marcus’s work stood out to me. Upon entering the gallery, at first glance, I assumed Marcus’ pieces to be photographs; once I got a closer look, I realized it was all sketched. This laborious process makes each work take months for the artist to finish. I had a short conversation with Marcus about his work, and he expressed that though he considered photography to speed up his process, his love of creation made him stick to his current practice. Each work is a labor of love.
Marcus’ work is an uncanny valley of objects. Human presence is sensed all around but there’s is no central figure or over-arching narrative being readily introduced to viewers, this leaves us with a variety of objects akin to a curio cabinet, and a narrative to piece together ourselves.
The work reminded me of a landscape that had been recently decimated. Objects are placed haphazardly, and the items have no apparent relationship. Marcus informed me that he works on one object at a time, covering the previous as he continues creating. The final composition of the work reveals itself to the artist after its completion. Though my initial impression of the composition was chaotic, there is a rhythm and intention behind the placement. The artist illuminated that he focuses on the repetition of shapes as he moves through his works.
The show will be on view from Dec. 17 - 21, 2024
From the Archive: Koco Toribio’s “Give me the Light: Wildest Dreams”
During my finals, Black Brick Project held a solo exhibition for Koco Toribio, "Give me the Light: Wildest Dreams" curation and text by Diego Anaya and Patricia Encarnación. I absolutely loved this show. I discovered it from a friend's Instagram story on the 12th, went on the 13th, and the show closed on the 14th. I wish I could've shared it sooner!
Toribio is a multidisciplinary Dominican artist now based in NYC and head at Sokio, a streetwear brand that features his artwork and designs. "Give Me the Light" featured twelve works; the majority of the show was created with acrylic gouache and oil paint, and some works were created with embroidery. Toribio's work amazed me; within the canvas is an interplay of identity, community, and religion; a fantastical thread combines all these elements to deliver an alternative fictitious history with layered narratives.
His landscapes transport the viewers into an untouched tropical paradise with fierce and devoted inhabitants. Throughout his canvases are fantastical figures, idols, Gods, and devotees. These beings blend and coexist within Toribio's canvas; he creates a suspended space that feels untouched by mundanity, and viewers feel their presence interrupts a scared right, as with the image above.
Toribio's work blends the mystical, historical, religious, and spiritual; each is a unique magical portraiture that peeks into these beings' lives. Unfortunately, the show is no longer open; it closed on December 14th. You can keep up with the artist through his Instagram.
Once again, thank you to all my current subscribers for holding on! Expect more regular art findings from here on out. Also, congratulations to all my fellow graduates ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚