John Chamberlain Exhibition at the Jacob Lewis Gallery

In 1957, John Chamberlain became one of the first artists to render the tenets of the Abstract Expressionist movement in three dimensions. On a legendary summer day in Southampton, New York, the artist ran over the fenders of Larry Rivers’ dilapidated 1929 Ford, bending and welding the pieces to found poles, recontextualizing it as art object. This breakthrough became the crux of Chamberlain’s artistic practice, which is defined by his use of highly-curated auto body material—warped, crimped, collaged and welded into large-scale totems and colorful mounds.

 

The works in the exhibition take their titles from a bank of lyrical words and phrases the artist collected over his lifetime, responding to the poetry of his contemporaries at Black Mountain College. Created in the aughts, the sculptures are loose and ribbonesque—painted, crushed, and then painted again—airy and playful in comparison to their mid-century counterparts. As the viewer moves through the space, the works reflect and refract, giving an impression that is both imposing and unexpectedly organic.

 


 

Opening Reception: Thu Sep 15, From 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Start Date

September 16, 2016

End Date

September 22, 2016

Hours

10:00 AM - 06:00 PM

Address

Jacob Lewis Gallery, 521 W 26th St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10001

Event Type

Public

More Information

Jacob Lewis Gallery

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