Norman Bluhm's 1984 Large-Scale Works on Paper at James Graham Gallery Reveal Abstract Expressionist Evolution
Between March 14 and April 19, 2008, James Graham & Sons in New York City presented an exhibition featuring five significant works on paper created by Norman Bluhm in 1984. This showcase highlighted Bluhm's distinctive approach within the second wave of New York School abstraction, showcasing his dynamic energy in contrast to the lighter style of Willem de Kooning. Bluhm's artistic journey, shaped by his experiences in France during the 1950s and 1960s, transitioned from aggressive gestural strokes to more associative designs in the 1970s, incorporating rounded forms and sexualized female imagery. Pieces such as "Untitled Drawing #3" and "Untitled 1984" merged dark themes with vivid colors, delving into concepts of sex and death while navigating between chaos and precision.
Key facts
- Norman Bluhm's large-scale works on paper from 1984 were exhibited at James Graham & Sons
- The exhibition ran from March 14 to April 19, 2008
- Bluhm lived in France during the 1950s and 1960s alongside Joan Mitchell and Sam Francis
- His early work featured violent gestural slashes similar to Alfred Leslie
- By the 1970s, Bluhm shifted to associative-relational designs with sexualized female forms
- Poet and critic Raphael Rubinstein linked Bluhm's titles to Ingres's "Turkish Bath"
- Bluhm's forms often used bilateral symmetry to create explosive pressure
- His style drew from diverse influences including Mayan art, Tiepolo, and Hindu statuary
Entities
Artists
- Norman Bluhm
- Willem de Kooning
- Joan Mitchell
- Sam Francis
- Alfred Leslie
- Arshile Gorky
- Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
- Andrea Mantegna
- Domenico Beccafumi
- Edvard Munch
- Mark Rothko
- Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
- Philip Guston
- Peter Saul
Institutions
- James Graham & Sons
- artcritical
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- France