Cy Gavin's 'New Paintings' at Gagosian Rome Explores Human-Nature Bonds

Cy Gavin (born 1985, Pittsburgh) presents 'New Paintings,' his first solo exhibition in Italy, at Gagosian Rome. The show follows a successful debut at Gagosian New York in winter 2023 and coincides with Gavin receiving the Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize from the Studio Museum of Harlem. All works on view were created in 2023. Gavin's large-scale canvases, characterized by color patches and essential brushstrokes, draw inspiration from the Hudson River Valley, where he retreated in 2020 to reconnect with nature. His landscapes transcend specific locations, conveying universal energy and addressing themes like climate change. Notable works include 'Untitled (Blue-green algae),' which depicts toxic algae blooms fueled by fertilizers and rising temperatures; 'Untitled (Wall of the Tiber),' showing plants growing through Rome's riverside stone walls; 'Untitled (Roadside with chicory and wild carrot),' featuring spontaneous flora along an asphalt road; 'Untitled (Pollarded mulberry tree),' a blue tree constrained by a sidewalk; and 'Untitled (Binary stars),' an interstellar scene of two stars in orbital dance. The exhibition highlights nature's encroachment on urban spaces and the coexistence of contrast and symbiosis.