Thomas Nozkowski and Tony Berlant present contrasting solo exhibitions in New York galleries

Thomas Nozkowski's exhibition at Max Protetch runs until March 18, 2006, featuring paintings that demonstrate a shift toward more accessible compositions while maintaining his characteristic complexity. The 61-year-old artist, known for small-scale works typically measuring around 22 by 28 inches, presents pieces like "Untitled (8–69)" (2005) and "Untitled (8-75)" (2005) that incorporate bright colors and crisp edges alongside his signature anxious energy. His approach avoids consistent themes, instead giving each painting its own visual vocabulary while maintaining unity through sensibility. Tony Berlant's collages at Lennon, Weinberg until March 11, 2006, utilize cutout printed tin fastened with steel brads to create dense, textured works that oscillate between representation and abstraction. Pieces like "Anytime" (2005) feature complex landscapes where appropriated materials serve both pictorial and textural purposes. Berlant's method evokes comparisons to Max Ernst's collage novels and Fred Tomasselli's work, though his approach emphasizes lyrical complexity over surreal juxtaposition. Both exhibitions showcase artists working with highly personal iconography derived from observed phenomena while challenging conventional artistic relationships between figure and ground.