Three New York gallery exhibitions explore mystical decoration in contemporary painting

Three distinct painting exhibitions in New York galleries share a thematic connection through mystical decoration. Richmond Burton's show at Cheim & Read, running through October 23 at 547 W 25 Street, marks a return to grid motifs absent since the mid-1990s, creating a bridge between artists like James Siena and Terry Winters. Concurrently displayed works like "Solex" (2003) recall his earlier floral "I am" series, evoking comparisons to Georgia O'Keeffe and Lee Krasner. Hunt Slonem's "Recent Work" at Marlborough Chelsea, also through October 23 at 211 West 19 Street, features repetitive forms like rabbits in "Charm" (2004) and multicolored faces in "Ascension" (2004), with his performative approach prioritizing ambience over individual canvases. Reed Danzinger's exhibition at McKenzie Fine Art, open through October 9 at 511 W 25 Street, presents labor-intensive, allusion-packed works using oil, shellac, and pigment on paper mounted on board. Critics note these artists, including Robert Kushner at DC Moore and the upcoming Caio Fonseca show at Paul Kasmin, employ sumptuous visual effects while backing away from overt irony. Burton's grid paintings operate diagonally to suggest endless repetition and organic growth from geometric decay, while Slonem's work embraces an aesthetic of accumulation where "more is more" becomes a Zen principle. Danzinger's intricate multi-panel pieces risk visual overdose but remain technically exhilarating.