Alfonse Borysewicz's Exhibition at First Things Gallery Explores Religious Abstraction
Between March 7 and May 12, 2017, Alfonse Borysewicz showcased 20 artworks at First Things Gallery in New York City under the title 'My Catholica: Mentors, Muses, and Mystery.' These pieces, created from 2010 onwards, merge abstract styles with religious themes. A former seminarian hailing from Detroit, Borysewicz draws inspiration from Byzantine and Orthodox iconography, having crafted altarpieces for the Brooklyn Oratory. The exhibition included portraits of figures such as Fr. Paul Berg and Sr. Mary Finn, along with representations of Pope Francis and Benedict XVI. Notable pieces featured were 'Angel' (2010), 'Flagellation' (2010-14), 'Pomegranate' (2010-16), and 'Pantocrator' (2015-17). Curated by Father Paul Anel, the event highlighted the theme of 'mystery' in art. Borysewicz's work has been previously noted in Tema Celeste (1991) and Artforum (late 1970s).
Key facts
- Alfonse Borysewicz's exhibition ran from March 7 to May 12, 2017 at First Things Gallery in New York City
- The show featured 20 paintings, mostly made since 2010, blending abstract art with religious iconography
- Borysewicz is a former seminarian from Detroit known for works like altarpieces for the Brooklyn Oratory
- Portraits included mentors Fr. Paul Berg and Sr. Mary Finn, plus Pope Francis and Benedict XVI
- Key works used techniques like sgraffito, collage, and oil and wax encaustic, as seen in 'Angel' and 'Flagellation'
- The exhibition was curated by Father Paul Anel, a chaplain of the Heart's Home community in Brooklyn
- First Things Gallery has previously shown German painter Joerg Madlener, a student of Theodor Adorno and Otto Dix
- Borysewicz's work was discussed in Tema Celeste in 1991 and Artforum in the late 1970s
Entities
Artists
- Alfonse Borysewicz
- Joerg Madlener
- Otto Dix
- Anselm Kiefer
- Fr. Paul Berg
- Sr. Mary Finn
- Pope Francis
- Benedict XVI
- Father Paul Anel
- Theodor Adorno
Institutions
- First Things Gallery
- First Things
- Brooklyn Oratory
- Heart's Home
- Tema Celeste
- Artforum
- artcritical
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Detroit
- Brooklyn
- Germany
- Italy