Anna Ostoya's 'Slaying' exhibition at Bortolami critically panned for superficial treatment of Gentileschi's Judith

From February 25 to April 23, 2016, Bortolami Gallery in New York hosted Anna Ostoya's exhibition titled 'Slaying.' This showcase examined Artemisia Gentileschi's 'Judith Slaying Holofernes' through Cubist interpretations. Critics remarked that the exhibition fell short, lacking the original's depth of humanity and violence. Ostoya's work was characterized by an associative style, featuring seemingly random formal components. Among the pieces were 'Holofernes Slaying Holofernes' and 'Judith Slaying Judith' (both from 2016), where both characters share the same head. Critics contended that her gender-neutral portrayals diluted women's historical power in art. Additionally, a side gallery displayed altered inkjet prints of Gentileschi's work. The exhibition overlooked the biblical narrative and Gentileschi's own experiences. The gallery is located at 520 West 20th Street, New York, with a contact number of 212 727 2050.