Liz Markus's 2009 Exhibition at Zieher Smith Gallery Features Paintings of Nancy Reagan and 1970s Icons

Liz Markus presented her solo exhibition 'Hot Nights At The Regal Beagle' at Zieher Smith Gallery from March 19 to April 18, 2009. Located at 531 West 25th Street in New York City, the show featured acrylic paintings on unprimed canvas, including works like 'Double Nancy' (2009) and 'Nancy 5' (2008), each measuring 60 x 48 inches. Markus's technique employs thin washes of acrylic that recall the poured abstractions of 1970s artists such as Paul Jenkins, while her imagery draws from portraits of figures like Nancy Reagan, George Plimpton, and Johnny Rotten, often sourced from past issues of Vanity Fair. The artist creates tension by juxtaposing precise, controlled imagery with loose, stained backgrounds, challenging perceptions of chance and control in her process. Her 'Failed Target' series references Kenneth Noland's Target Paintings, blending nostalgia with critical examination of 1970s cultural hierarchies. Unlike her earlier works featuring anonymous hippie types, this exhibition demonstrated a sharper conceptual edge and visual impact, engaging viewers with its ambitious exploration of paint and content. The reviewer, initially unplanned, visited the show twice and found the paintings conceptually and visually striking, noting their lasting impression.