A.A. Rucci's Tondos and Hard-Edge Abstractions at Two Chelsea Galleries

Brooklyn-based painter A.A. Rucci presented works in two concurrent Chelsea exhibitions: 'Tondo' at Coleman Burke Gallery (October 25–November 26, 2011) and 'All Systems Go!' at C24 Gallery (November 10–December 23, 2011). The tondos, spanning two decades, initially featured headless figures in Floridian settings, later evolving into hard-edge abstractions with faux-finish wood grain textures. Rucci's palette includes aqua, storm cloud, and alizarin. Notable works include 'Aldo's perfect peanut-butter sandwich' (2006), 'Conquistador' (2009), and 'The Fall' (2008), a twelve-foot sidewalk piece in acrylic on cast porcelain, pewter, and wood. 'All Systems Go!', curated by Suzanne Carte, also featured Tilo Schulz, Diego Toledo, Brendan Earley, and Jennifer Marman & Daniel Borins, with an architecture theme. Rucci's recent smaller-scale paintings, such as 'OnceUponATimeInAmerica' (2010) and 'Jelly Belly Racer' (2011), show a more straightforward style achieving stable harmony.