Sandro Chia's 2017 New York exhibition at Marc Straus Gallery marks his return after a decade

Sandro Chia presented his first New York exhibition in nearly ten years at Marc Straus Gallery from February 15 to April 2, 2017. The show featured fifteen paintings created between 2014 and 2017, alongside one earlier sculpture from 2000. Chia, a key figure in the 1980s transavanguardia movement alongside Francesco Clemente and Enzo Cucchi, had seen his market impacted when collector Charles Saatchi sold significant holdings in 1989. His work at Marc Straus centered on a recurring solitary male figure called the 'Wayfarer,' depicted in contrapposto stance against varying landscapes with different animals and patterned shirts. Paintings displayed sophisticated color handling with warm and cool grays, sometimes revealing unexpected undertones, while surfaces showed assured brushwork reminiscent of Richard Diebenkorn. Two notable works included the sculpture 'Single Winged Angel' (2000), featuring a gold heart, and the painting 'Looking At' (2017), which explores reflection with reversed saturation between figure and mirrored world. Chia's artistic references span from Picasso's classicism to patterns recalling Robert Delaunay, Sonia Delaunay, and Jasper Johns. The exhibition suggested themes of personal journey, spirituality, and the enduring nature of painting as a life pursuit.