John Griefen's Monochromatic Paintings at Gary Snyder Project Space Explore Surface and Color

From March 4 to May 1, 2010, John Griefen showcases his monochromatic artworks at the Gary Snyder Project Space in New York City. This exhibition emphasizes textured pieces that demand in-person observation. Organizer Gary Snyder draws parallels between Griefen's creations and Ad Reinhardt's black paintings from the 1950s, while also highlighting distinctions from the reductive artists of the 1960s, such as Jo Baer and Darby Bannard. Griefen's artistic journey, which began around 2004 at Salander-O'Reilly gallery, is noted for its complexity, influenced by Jules Olitski's surface techniques. His paintings, crafted with layers of interference and gel, feature a variety of compositions, including deep purple and pale mauve, orange and green, and black with lemon yellow. Each untitled piece is uniquely designed in terms of shape, color, and size, with earlier works displayed at Tribes Gallery in 1998.