Shows to See: Natural World
Our picks of shows worth seeing this month
At the top of each month, Shows to See arrives in your inbox to help make art viewing a more streamlined, more pleasant, and dare I say more fun experience.
This June, we’re looking to feel as connected as possible to the HBIC that is Mother Nature. Maybe it’s because of hitting the NYC backyard lottery and consequently becoming someone who spends all her disposable income on a burgeoning garden (but have you ever laid eyes on something as perfect as Celosia), or the fact that Brooklyn feels significantly more green than in seasons past. Whatever the case, I’m adopting a staycation mentality for the summer and the only way to survive that choice is through leaning into the *limited* nature this concrete capital offers. To that end, the must-see exhibitions in NYC this month all center around themes relating to the natural world. See you there and/or see you at this weekend’s farmers market.
Downtown
Bibi Zogbé at Andrew Kreps
394 Broadway
Closes June 15
TL;DR I’m not going to pretend like I knew who Bibi was before learning of this exhibition. In fact while I’m here, I’ll add that that is one of my biggest grievances in the art world—the pressure around knowing every artist who ever walked the earth—IMPOSIBLÉ! That being said, to anyone sharing in this prior unknowingness, I can’t recommend familiarizing yourself with her work more. A big life to summarize in what is meant to be a brief overview, but the high level points include: born in Lebanon in 1890, moved to Argentina at age 16 where she would settle permanently, married and divorced by the 1930s which is when she embarked on an art career, became known as la pintura de flores “the flower painter,” for her paintings depicting flora and fauna primarily from her home and adopted countries, saw great success during her lifetime but after her passing in 1975, fell into obscurity. Cut to NOW and her work is part of this year’s Venice Biennale (think the Olympics of art). Save on the plane fair to Italy and head to Tribeca for this knockout show.
Tulips at Kapp Kapp
86 Walker St, Fl 4
On view until July 26
TL;DR Kapp Kapp has a knack for putting together exhibitions that inject genuine enjoyment back into art. Owned and operated by twin brothers Sam and Daniel Kapp (get it, Kapp x2), I’ve always admired their choice of who and what to showcase and think it stands out as its own delicious flavor within the downtown scene. Beyond the exhibition title—an homage to a poem Sylvia Plath wrote while in a hospital bed recovering from an appendectomy, poor girl—you’ll need to take a closer read at each of the work’s in this group show for that natural world connect, but trust us, it’s there. A cute and smart (our favorite attributes) way for the gallery to ring in its five year anniversary, not to mention multiple (big name) artists we stan that signed on to partake.
Maja Ruznic at Karma
22 & 188 E 2nd St
Opens June 26
TL;DR I didn’t mean for this issue to be that of the name-drop, but I would be remiss if I didn’t start this by sharing that Maja is one of few painters curated into the current Whitney Biennial (like the Venice Biennale, a big deal exhibit that comes with major accolades). Maja’s work has transfixed me for years but particular exhibit timing has to be the most exciting moment we’ve witnessed for her thus far. Maja lives in rural New Mexico so like osmosis, nature seeps into every move she makes on the canvas. Maybe less obvious is her ongoing interest in sacred geometry, defined by Urban Dictionary (LOL) as “the underlying geometry in nature.” She’ll be taking over both of Karma’s E 2nd St spaces which to me (if I haven’t already made this clear) screams major.
Ed Baynard at James Fuentes
52 White St
Opens June 21
TL;DR Along with our new friend Bibi Zogbé, Ed Baynard is another deceased artist on this list. Why? Because great art doesn’t always have to be new, shiny, cutting edge, yadda yadda, AND we can learn a lot from those who came before us, but you already knew that. Ever heard of Agnes Martin? She was a fan of Ed’s work and helped to get it into galleries back in the golden age that was the 1970s. This particular exhibition of his work highlights a never-before-seen body of work that sums up for me why art is so powerful: During the summer of 1981, Ed lived on Fire Island, a refuge for the LGBTQ community that has been referred to as the country’s first gay and lesbian town. Here, he created a body of works on paper meditating on the beauty of the natural environment surrounding him and his friends. As the show’s press release explains, “The year these works were made also marks the year that the HIV/AIDS epidemic came to public attention, which would ultimately take the life of Baynard’s partner.” Ed’s poetic, serene scenes read as the steadying peace amidst drastic turmoil, a calm oasis that I’m sure he clung to in proceeding years.
Chelsea
Lucas Arruda at David Zwirner
537 W 20th St
Closes June 15
TL;DR I find myself oscillating between the feeling that blue chip galleries are giving ‘bleh’ and recognizing a show that really slaps. Lucas Arruda slaps and so here we go highlighting one of the big fish (David Zwirner) in the gallery world. Lucas is from Brazil (a country ripe with under-the-radar artists) and though I’ve never been there I can’t help but imagine that with his paintings, he’s capturing the distinct essence of that part of the world’s natural wonder. Small but mighty, Lucas’ works are meditative and dreamy, so thick with paint that your mind and eyes can easily get lost in them. I’ll be seeing the show for the 3rd time next week.
Jennifer Rochlin at Hauser & Wirth
542 W 22nd St
Closes July 12
TL;DR One more example of blue chip pulling through in the excitement department. Jennifer Rochlin’s debut at Hauser & Wirth feels as much earned as it does surprising. On one hand, her work is fantastic and she’s been in the game with growing success for a minute. On the other hand, she seems far too cool (chill even comes to mind though I hesitate on admitting that word is in my vernacular) and her work too delightful for a corporate Hauser & Wirth to take interest. Good for them for opening their doors and by association, upping their cool factor. BACK TO THE ART. Jennifer molds clay, a material ~of the earth~, into vessels that become mini autobiographies. Scenes encased in nature’s seasonal changes showcase the stories of Jennifer’s life as it continues to unfold.