American Art Collector Editor Josh Rose Curates Exhibition
Despite what we hear from the contemporary art world to the contrary, painting as a chosen medium for artists is alive and well in 2018. In fact, some would say, it has never looked stronger. When Beau Alexander asked me to curate a show for the Maxwell Alexander Gallery it gave me a moment to sit back, reflect on the work that comes across my desk every day and then plan an exhibition of work from what I feel is some of the best artists working today.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the artists I admire. This is a mere selection of work that I enjoy, respect, admire and value. The exhibition is titled simply Painting Now and will include work from Sergio Barrale,Jeffrey T. Larson, ER de Grey, Jessica Gordon, Hollis Dunlap, Matthew Bober, Maria Kreyn, David Gluck, Kate Stone, Adam Miller, Joel C. Jones, Jason Bard Yarmosky and Stephen Magsig. Painting Now will open at the Maxwell Alexander Gallery’s new downtown Los Angeles location on Pico Boulevard August 4 and hang for the remainder of the month.While all the work in the exhibition falls under the general guise of “realism,” the work ranges from the almost photorealistic urban scenes of Magsig to classical realism from the likes of Larson and Gluck to the more expressionist style of Balkan and Dunlap.
Michael Bergt teaches workshops around the world on his famous egg tempera technique. He was recently chosen as one of only eight artists to represent the United States in the BP Portrait Award in London. The award is the most prestigious portrait painting competition in the world. “I’ve always been fascinated with the figure beautifully rendered and by pattern and decoration,” says Bergt. “In my new work, I focus on these two interests: my figure studies are given a context within the designs found in erotic Japanese ‘Shunga’ prints, Persian miniatures and the pattern traditions of Eastern art: realism and pattern/Eastern and Western aesthetics.”
To view the full exhibition, click here.