Malcolm Morley's Late Knight Paintings at Sperone Westwater Spark Critical Debate
From September 12 to October 27, 2018, Sperone Westwater hosted 'Malcolm Morley: Tally-ho' at 257 Bowery, NYC, featuring the artist's last creations. The exhibition highlighted works from the three years preceding Morley's passing, centering on armored knights. Among the prominent pieces were 'Piazza d’Italian with French Knights' (2017), 'Melee at Agincourt' (2017), 'French and English Knights Engaged in Mortal Combat' (2017), and 'Italian Knight' (2016). A catalogue note by Nicholas Serota connected Morley's childhood toy soldiers to his psychological memories. Renowned for his photorealism and subsequently Neo-Expressionism, Morley's later works contrasted with 'The Ultimate Anxiety' (1978). Critics raised questions about the significance of the knight-themed paintings within art discussions.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Malcolm Morley: Tally-ho' ran from September 12 to October 27, 2018
- Held at Sperone Westwater, 257 Bowery, New York City
- Featured paintings of armored knights completed in the three years before Morley's death
- Works included 'Piazza d’Italian with French Knights' (2017) and 'Melee at Agincourt' (2017)
- Exhibition catalogue included a note by Nicholas Serota
- Morley was famous for photorealist paintings forty years ago and was a Neo-Expressionist in the 1980s
- The show included 'The Ultimate Anxiety' (1978), referencing John Ruskin's concerns about Venice
- Critic argued the knight paintings were absurd, while praising the earlier work as an achievement
Entities
Artists
- Malcolm Morley
- Francis Picabia
- David Salle
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Alex Katz
- Paolo Uccello
- James Henry Nixon
- Laurence Olivier
- John Ruskin
Institutions
- Sperone Westwater
- artcritical
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Venice
- Italy