Merlin James's Two-Decade Survey at Sikkema Jenkins Reveals a Maverick Painter's Contradictions
An exhibition showcasing Merlin James's artwork from the past two decades is currently displayed at Sikkema Jenkins & Co. in New York, running until January 21. Among the featured pieces is "Flower Piece" (2001), which combines a floral still-life with abstract color bands. James's artistic approach intertwines personal intimacy with sophisticated references to art history, utilizing unique materials such as hair and sticks. He identifies with a "quasi-masonic fraternity" of artists, including Sickert, Morandi, and modern painter Alex Katz. In 2002, James, who was the inaugural Alex Katz Chair in Painting at Cooper Union, presented a lecture titled "Painting Per Se." Other notable works include "Room" (1990), "Sex" (2004), and "Waves and Rocks" (2004-05), emphasizing the memory and tradition of acrylic paint.
Key facts
- Merlin James's exhibition at Sikkema Jenkins & Co. runs until January 21
- The show spans twenty years of his work, his fourth with the gallery
- Featured painting "Flower Piece" (2001) combines still-life with abstract elements
- James's work incorporates materials like hair and sticks, with punctured canvases
- He has written criticism on artists including Sickert, Morandi, Derain, and Alex Katz
- James held the first Alex Katz Chair in Painting at Cooper Union in 2002
- The exhibition includes works from 1990 to 2005, such as "Room" and "Waves and Rocks"
- He primarily uses acrylic paint, preferring its less lush qualities
Entities
Artists
- Merlin James
- Manet
- Jasper Johns
- Luc Tuymans
- Van Gogh
- Sickert
- Morandi
- Derain
- William Nicholson
- Gwen John
- Soutine
- Jean Hélion
- Alex Katz
- Courbet
- Constable
- de Chirico
- L.S. Lowry
Institutions
- Sikkema Jenkins & Co.
- Cooper Union
Locations
- New York
- United States
- 530 West 22nd Street
- Belgian