Milton Resnick's 1970s-80s Paintings at Cheim & Read Reveal Pure Abstraction
From September 22 to October 29, 2011, Cheim & Read in New York City hosted "Milton Resnick: The Elephant in the Room," highlighting the artist's large-scale, nearly monochromatic paintings from the 1970s and 1980s, characterized by their vivid surfaces. As a first-generation Abstract Expressionist, Resnick aimed for a vision devoid of "isms" following Jackson Pollock's passing. The exhibition juxtaposed these later works with earlier pieces from a 2008 display. Notable paintings such as Untitled (1988) and Straws (1982) showcase intricate textures and hues. Resnick advocated for the erasure of imagery and the freedom of paint, encouraging his students to allow the paint to express itself, reflecting both physical and psychic energy. Some critics interpret his work as a response to neo-Expressionism, hinting at future developments in painting.
Key facts
- Exhibition "Milton Resnick: The Elephant in the Room" ran September 22 to October 29, 2011
- Show focused on Resnick's paintings from the 1970s and 1980s
- Held at Cheim and Read gallery at 547 W 25th Street, New York City
- Resnick was a first-generation Abstract Expressionist
- He lamented Jackson Pollock's death and the waning camaraderie of the movement
- Paintings feature large-scale, near-monochrome, intensely physical surfaces
- Untitled (1988) recalls Swan (1961) from a 2008 exhibition
- Straws (1982) uses teal, rust, and earth green with cosmological blue light
Entities
Artists
- Milton Resnick
- David Reed
- Jackson Pollock
Institutions
- Cheim and Read
- Art in America
Locations
- New York City
- United States