Nancy Haynes' Monochromatic Paintings Investigate Light and Material at Regina Rex

From April 7 to May 14, 2017, ten monochromatic paintings by Nancy Haynes were on display at the Regina Rex gallery in New York City. These dark gray canvases, each measuring two by three feet, showcase the artist's subtle investigations of light through her manipulation of pigment. By blending blacks and grays, Haynes achieves luminous effects that evoke the essence of dawn and twilight. The visible brush strokes provide a tactile connection to her artistic process, while her choice of mediums influences the reflectivity of the surfaces. Since emerging as a painter in the early 1970s, Haynes has delved into metaphor and philosophy, paralleling the works of Robert Ryman and Marcia Hafif. One notable piece, "Mise-en-abyme," explores the interplay between actual and depicted light, emphasizing the exhibition's focus on painting's ability to represent light and its constraints in creating illusions.