Lois Dodd's Dual Exhibitions Present Nudes and Landscapes in NYC

Two concurrent exhibitions in New York City featured the work of painter Lois Dodd from December 4, 2003 to January 17, 2004. "Lois Dodd: Nudes in the Landscape" was presented at the New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting & Sculpture located at 8 West 8th Street. Simultaneously, "Lois Dodd: Small Paintings" was on view at the Alexandre Gallery at 41 East 57th Street. The artist, then 75 years old, created works that diverged from typical media portrayals of women. Her female nudes appear in natural settings with a matter-of-fact dignity, avoiding sexualization. Specific paintings mentioned include "Legs Up Against Tree" (2002), "Figure in Hammock" (2000), "Three Nudes on Woodpile" (1999), "Nude on Woodpile" (1999), and "Tennis Anyone?" (1999). Dodd's approach to the modernist nude emphasizes self-possession and ordinary human presence. Her landscapes demonstrate careful observation and material factuality. The artist maintains studios in New York City, Maine, and Rural New Jersey. Her work balances motif with the physical reality of paint application. Dodd creates paintings that appear made by ordinary people using typical art materials, which represents a democratic political statement. Her skill has been compared to that of a Mandarin poet.