John Walker's 1970s Collages at Knoedler Reveal Brutal Beauty and Spatial Depth
Knoedler & Company hosted an exhibition of John Walker's abstract collages from February 3 to March 19, 2005, showcasing works created between 1974 and 1978 alongside more recent pieces. The highlight of the main gallery featured two significant collages from 1977, "Ostraca I" and an unnamed pendant, both measuring 10 by 8 feet and incorporating shades of blue and yellow. Walker's approach defied Clement Greenberg's notion of flatness, introducing spatial depth through sharp-edged elements. The 1975 piece "Juggernaut with Plume for P.Neruda" presented a mix of rust and vibrant hues. Critic Hugh Davies described earlier works as resembling "a wall of machinery," while Walker aimed for a striking effect. Recent collages from 2003-04 received critique for their rawness, and the exhibition also featured smaller collages and schematic drawings, reflecting Walker's interplay of beauty and brutality in spatial composition.
Key facts
- Exhibition dates: February 3 – March 19, 2005
- Venue: Knoedler & Company at 19 East 70 Street, New York
- Artist: British-born John Walker, an abstract painter and teacher
- Featured mammoth abstract collages from 1974-78 and recent works
- Two 10 by 8 foot paintings from 1977: "Ostraca I" and an untitled pendant
- Walker defied Clement Greenberg's emphasis on flatness, focusing on spatial depth
- Critic Hugh Davies in 1979 described works as "a wall of machinery in flat-out operation"
- Recent 2003-04 collages criticized for raw gestures and literal elements like Maine mud
Entities
Artists
- John Walker
- Clement Greenberg
- Joan Baez
- Matisse
- Diebenkorn
- Dore Ashton
- Hilton Kramer
- Marsden Hartley
- John Marin
- Magritte
- Haydn
Institutions
- Knoedler & Company
- artcritical
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Maine