Gertrude Abercrombie's First New York Show in 60 Years at Karma Gallery
From August 9 to September 16, 2018, Karma Gallery in New York showcased Gertrude Abercrombie's first exhibition in more than six decades, displaying 70 artworks at 188 East 2nd Street. Curated in collaboration with Dan Nadel, the exhibition featured pieces ranging from 1934's Untitled (Slaughterhouse at Aledo) to 1971's The Door and the Rock. Abercrombie (1909-1977), a prominent figure in Chicago's Hyde Park bohemian community and a jazz lover who befriended Dizzy Gillespie, created art marked by a dark color scheme and mystical elements, often focusing on storytelling and recurring themes. The event also included a publication exceeding 400 pages with contributions from multiple authors, drawing parallels to Surrealism and prompting discussions about its connection to the #MeToo movement.
Key facts
- Exhibition ran from August 9 to September 16, 2018
- First New York show of Abercrombie's work in over 60 years
- Featured 70 works including portraits, still lifes, and landscapes
- Abercrombie lived from 1909 to 1977 in Chicago's Hyde Park
- She was friends with jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie
- Exhibition accompanied by 400+ page publication with multiple essays
- Recurring motifs included black cats, moons, doors, and haunted women
- Abercrombie described herself as a 'Bop' painter and 'Queen of Chicago'
Entities
Artists
- Gertrude Abercrombie
- Dan Nadel
- Robert Storr
- Susan Weininger
- Robert Cozzolino
- Dinah Livingston
- Studs Terkel
- Dizzy Gillespie
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Max Ernst
- René Magritte
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Leonora Carrington
- Dorothea Tanning
- Honoré Sharrer
- Charlotte Prodger
- Miles Davis
- Gertrude Stein
Institutions
- Karma Gallery
- Karma Books
- Smith College
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Chicago
- Hyde Park
- South Side
- Aledo
- New York