Philip Pearlstein's Nudes as Objects: A 2008 Exhibition Review Revisited
The Betty Cuningham Gallery hosted the exhibition "Philip Pearlstein: Then and Now" in 2008, displaying 13 paintings created between 1964 and 2008. This showcase highlighted Pearlstein's exploration of nude figures within interior spaces, devoid of emotional depth. His artworks prioritized formal relationships, presenting human forms as mere components of composition. Notable pieces like "Nude on Rusty Chair" (1969) employed severe cropping to enhance objectification. Pearlstein's approach was linked to "new perceptual realism," a concept introduced by critic Irving Sandler, alongside contemporaries such as Alex Katz. The exhibition featured a contrast of early and later works, including "Two Models with Large Whirlygig" (2006) and "Model with Horn Chair" (1990), emphasizing his abstract, anti-empirical style.
Key facts
- Exhibition "Philip Pearlstein: Then and Now" ran from June 26 to August 8, 2008
- Held at Betty Cuningham Gallery, 541 W. 25th St., New York City
- Featured 13 canvases spanning 1964–1969 and 1988–2008
- Pearlstein described as "the great genre-bender of contemporary art"
- His work associated with "new perceptual realism" alongside Alex Katz and Alfred Leslie
- Large canvases (e.g., 6x6 feet) with stark lighting and flat picture surfaces
- Later works incorporate Americana props like toys and folk objects
- Paintings deny emotion and traditional interior genre characteristics
Entities
Artists
- Philip Pearlstein
- David Cohen
- Irving Sandler
- Alex Katz
- Alfred Leslie
- Andy Warhol
- Piet Mondrian
- Barnett Newman
Institutions
- Betty Cuningham Gallery
- New York Sun
- artcritical
- Carnegie Tech
Locations
- New York City
- United States