| New Paintings and Drawings, 1974-1998 |
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| Apr 3 - May 15, 1999 | |
During April and May the George Adams Gallery will present a survey of paintings and drawings byJames Valerio. The exhibition features four large-scale figure paintings and ten still-life and figure drawings in graphite all made between 1974 and 1998. Over the past 25 years, James Valerio has articulated a way of looking at the world around him that is entirely his own. His paintings, always large enough to walk into, are realistic depictions of figures and still-life set-ups derived from photographic sources. Inevitably, however, the impact of Valerio's realism gives way to the realization that his true intent is to depict a psychologically charged scene by combining intricate compositions with often grotesque images. For example, Frances(1974) and Tom's Choice (1991) both depict figures in intimate interior settings; in each case Valerio emphasizes pock-marked flesh and clashing patterns and colors that are at odds with the figure's setting in order to establish a psychological tension. Dandelion Dreams (1995) andModels on the Studio Floor (1998), each depict a pair of figures with total realism although the vantage point is, inexplicably, from above. In fact, in spite of Valerio's intense attention to detail - note, for example, the tatoo and piercing on the female model in Two Models on Studio Floor - the painting is actually a study of the effects of light and color. In the case of the drawings, Valerio lavishes great attention on the most unexpected subjects, for example a whole, raw chicken placed on a pedestal or a bath towel rendered so meticulously that it almost becomes a landscape. Exhibition Checklist Clockwise from the right: 1. Fowl, 1994 graphite on paper 23 x 27 5/8 inches JVd 17 2. D.D., 1996 pencil on paper 29 x 23 inches JVd 25 3. Two Models on Studio Floor, 1998 oil on canvas 90 x 100 inches JVp 17 4. Fear, 1995 pencil on paper 25 x 20 inches JVd 28 5. Dandelion Dream, 1995 oil on canvas 92 x 110 inches JVp 13 6. Evasive, 1995 pencil on paper 17 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches JVd 27 7. Tom's Choice, 1991 oil on canvas 72 x 84 inches JVp 04 8. Self-Portrait, 1998 graphite on paper 21 13/16 x 24 3/4 inches JVd 13 9. Frances, 1974 oil on canvas 86 x 72 inches JVp 15 10. Steve, 1990 pencil on paper 29 x 23 inches JVd 07 11. Broken Jar, 1994 graphite on paper 23 x 26 1/2 inches JVd 21 |
