Andrew Masullo's 2004 Exhibition at Washburn Gallery Defies Categorization with Inventive Paintings

Andrew Masullo's exhibition at Joan T. Washburn gallery in New York from June 3 to July 23, 2004, featured recent paintings that resist easy classification, blending abstract and representational elements. The show displayed a variety of works, with surfaces heavily textured and color choices often relying on bold reds and whites as grounds, complemented by yellows, blues, and greens. Key paintings like "4099" and "4085" were noted for their direct and poetic qualities, with forms such as colored diamonds and spindly globular shapes arranged adeptly. However, the exhibition included uneven pieces, such as "4100" with crammed cloud forms and "4073" depicting a black Christmas tree ornament with appendages, which some found distracting. Masullo's approach was characterized by audacity and inventiveness, with texture rarely corresponding to the image, and forms flirting with figuration, including tiny arms and legs added to geometric shapes. The paintings were packed into one small room, sharing space between strong and weak works, yet overall engaging viewers through risk-taking and a carnival-like mood in coloring.