Bobbie Oliver's Abstract Paintings Debut at Valentine Gallery in Ridgewood

Bobbie Oliver's new abstract paintings are on view at Valentine Gallery from September 25 to October 18, 2015, located at 581 Woodward Avenue in Ridgewood. Fred Valentine, a painter himself, runs the gallery with a focus on painting, adding to the neighborhood's growing art scene alongside spaces like Famous Accountants, English Kills, and Outpost. The exhibition features works ranging from the large-scale Teal Daylight (2010), measuring 63 x 68 inches, to smaller pieces like Untitled (2015). Oliver's technique involves applying paint wet into wet and manipulating it through various methods, including folding the canvas, as seen in Forever, for Hudson (#1), which references the late Hudson of Feature, Inc. Her canvases are prepared with multiple gesso coats to achieve a surface distinct from color field stain painting, creating effects reminiscent of gouache or watercolor. In Teal Daylight, pouring and blotting with newspaper emphasize surface texture, while Under + Over (2012) uses red, blue, and violet hues with shapes cut off at the edges for geometric contrast. Oliver's work avoids grand gestures in favor of slow, fluid movements that evoke shadows, reflections, or atmospheric elements without literal representation. Concurrently, her paintings are also displayed at Hionas Gallery in a show opening October 8, paired with sculptor Alain Kirili, both artists reflecting the legacy of Jackson Pollock through material exploration and linearity.