Joyce Pensato
Castaway
Petzel Gallery
Composed of cartoon characters rendered huge with super drippy and roughly hewn look. This massive paintings feel very urgent and quick, drawing you in with its familiarity, yet unsettling that image with a sinister side. In an anterior room are images rephotographed from her studio wall that gives an insight on how she works. Check it out until March 28, 2015.
Sweet Toof Show
Pandemic Gallery
22 Waverly Street, Brooklyn, NYC
Great show created from scratch only a couple months ago. A ton of work here that fills every bit of space in this unique, huge gallery space here in Brooklyn. A bit of a hike to get here, but well worth it. It’s a chanced to own some Sweet Toof at a very affordable price. Check it out!
Jerk Face
Cartoon Villain
Bottleneck Gallery (UTB)
60 Broadway, Brooklyn
Great show of “Villains” in the trademark, Jerk Face style. This is his first solo show and the paintings look amazing. Most all are in a square format and really bring a consistent pop aesthetic to the work. First show, check it out.
Ai Weiwei
“According to What?”
20 year retrospective of Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei’s work. Features tons of sculpture, video, early NYC photography as well as challenging works from the 2008 sichuan earthquake. Rebar and backpacks highlight an intense set of works that challenge the Chinese bureaucracy for it’s lack of transparency and obligation to shoddy workmanship. Thousands of children died, no one held accountable. Show of the year. Check it out.
aiweiwei.com
brooklynmuseum.org
Ai Weiwei
“According to What?”
Brooklyn Museum
His most recent installation is an excruciatingly detailed depiction of the period he was held in solitary detention. Inside 6 Minimalistic metal cubes that are dioramas. When you peer inside the portals of the cubes you get to see into his condition as a prisoner for 3 months. He was “shadowed” by 2 guards at all times who watched him eat, shower and shit. Intense and complicated document on his life challenging the Chinese regime. Check it out—straight from the 55th Venice Biennale and the Hirshorn Mueseum in DC.
brooklynmuseum.org
aiweiwei.com
Swoon
“Submerged Motherlands”
Brooklyn Museum
A beautiful room-filling installation of Swoon’s work, based on Hurricane Sandy. It features an awe inspiring rag tree that rises 72 feet to the Atrium’s ceiling as well as 2 “boats” that were handcrafted and sailed during the Venice Biennial. I love complete take-overs of rooms in museums. This might be one of the best.
brooklynmuseum.org
swooninprint.com