Jack Pierson's 'Abstracts' exhibition at Cheim & Read transforms vintage signage into non-linguistic compositions

Jack Pierson's exhibition 'Abstracts' at Cheim & Read in New York City runs from October 8 to November 14, 2009, at 547 West 25th Street. The photographer and conceptual artist, known for using old signs to spell words, now assembles vintage lettering into abstract shapes that refuse to form readable text. Pieces like 'Her ancient solitary reign' feature multicolored O's arranged playfully, while 'Abstract #15' reconfigures small blue o's into a giant O, creating a tautological calligram. In 'Abstract #10', unrecognizable letters evoke a reclining figure, and 'Purest ray serene' suggests Arabic script along a horizontal axis. 'Abstract #11' resembles an exclamation point. The shift from linguistic function to visual composition heightens nostalgia and tattered glamour, yet the works maintain bright, joyful colors and playful arrangements. Pierson's work challenges simple interpretations of loss or pure abstraction, instead suggesting a transition from verbal to visual language. The exhibition demonstrates that even without spelling words, these compositions communicate through form and shape.