Laurie Fendrich Reviews Husband Peter Plagens' Exhibition at Nancy Hoffman Gallery

Laurie Fendrich, married to Peter Plagens for nearly 37 years, wrote a review of his exhibition at Nancy Hoffman Gallery without his knowledge. The show featured eight paintings and three collages by Plagens, running from January 25 to March 10, 2018, at 520 West 27th Street in New York City. Plagens' work explores contrasts between large, vibrant abstract paintings and restrained collages with words and images. His artistic practice spans over fifty years, characterized by a willingness to embrace randomness while maintaining precise control over color and brushwork. The artist begins paintings directly on the wall with loose marks, then builds layers to create rough-hewn shapes before adding geometric forms with predetermined colors. Collages start with pools of color on paper edges, followed by central images from found materials, with Plagens bridging the gap between concrete and abstract elements. He never corrects his work in either medium. Plagens has written extensively about art, producing over a thousand reviews and essays with a clear, jargon-free style that includes colloquialisms and pop culture references. His favorite artists are the Flemish masters. The artist views the universe as fundamentally unknowable and absurd, finding meaning through painting's wordless engagement with color and chance. He seeks to generate sensations of beauty without imposing social or metaphysical interpretations.