Mary Heilmann: Looking at Pictures at Whitechapel Gallery
The 'Looking at Pictures' exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery in London showcases the work of American artist Mary Heilmann, whose creations since the 1970s resist straightforward classification within abstract art. The title reflects both her paintings and the imagery she investigates, challenging modernist principles. After gaining recognition from her retrospective 'To Be Someone' in 2007-2008, Heilmann's art is characterized by shaped canvases and a combinatorial style, exemplified by 'Good Vibrations Diptych' (2012). Beginning her painting journey at 28 in New York in 1968, she opposed the formalism of Clement Greenberg. Her earlier pieces, such as 'The First Vent' (1972) and 'Save the Last Dance for Me' (1979), convey object-like weight and a sense of ironic feminism. The exhibition also features furniture and a slideshow titled 'Her Life,' which pairs her paintings with pop music.
Key facts
- Exhibition titled 'Looking at Pictures' at Whitechapel Gallery, London.
- Mary Heilmann began painting in 1968 at age 28 after moving to New York.
- Her retrospective 'To Be Someone' toured 2007-2008.
- Heilmann's work uses shaped canvases, ceramic dots, and furniture.
- 'Good Vibrations Diptych' (2012) combines paintings from 1992 and 2011.
- 'The First Vent' (1972) uses bronze powder for object-like weight.
- 'Save the Last Dance for Me' (1979) features pink drips and feminist irony.
- 'Little Mondrian' (1985) destabilizes primary colors and the grid.
- Heilmann cites music as key influence, referencing 'To Be Someone' and 'Common People'.
- Exhibition includes furniture and ceramic tableware by the artist.
- Slideshow 'Her Life' pairs paintings with pop music.
- Heilmann's work references surf culture, Matisse, Simpsons, and Mexican textiles.
Entities
Artists
- Mary Heilmann
- Frank Stella
- Carl Andre
- Robert Smithson
- Keith Sonnier
- Gordon Matta-Clark
- Clement Greenberg
- Alain Robbe-Grillet
- Henri Matisse
- Mies van der Rohe
- Orson Welles
- Gustav Stickley
- Noël Gallagher
- Stephen Westfall
- Éric de Chassey
- Detlef Mertins
Institutions
- Whitechapel Gallery
- Art in America
- Artforum
- Frieze
- MIT Press
- Musée d'art moderne et d'art contemporain, Saint-Étienne
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- New York
- United States
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- Santa Barbara
- Berkeley
- California
- Collioure
- France
Sources
- artpress —