Constellations: Paintings from the MCA Collection
Images
Rene Magritte, Les merveilles de la nature (The Wonders of Nature), 1953. Oil on canvas; 30 1/2 x 38 5/8 in. (77.5 x 98.1 cm), framed: 38 1/4 x 46 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. (97.2 x 117.5 x 6.4 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Joseph and Jory Shapiro, 1982.48. © 2015 C. Herscovici/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Photo © MCA Chicago
Peter Halley, Shonen Knife, 1991. Day-Glo acrylic and Roll-A-Tex on canvas; 86 1/4 x 85 1/2 x 3 3/4 in. (219.1 x 217.2 x 9.5 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Dorie Sternberg in memory of Paul and in honor of the MCA's 40th anniversary, 2007.23
Photo © MCA Chicago
Anselm Kiefer, Banner, 1990. Oil, lead, ash, rock, paper, and copper wire on canvas; 130 x 110 1/4 in. (330.2 x 280 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Camille Oliver-Hoffmann in memory of Paul W. Oliver-Hoffmann, 1998.25
Photo © MCA Chicago
Kerry James Marshall, Souvenir I, 1997. Acrylic and glitter on canvas banner; 108 x 157 in. (274.3 x 398.8 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Bernice and Kenneth Newberger Fund, 1997.73. © 1997 Kerry James Marshall
Photo © MCA Chicago
Ellen Gallagher, Pomp-Bang, 2003. Plasticine, ink, and paper mounted on canvas; 96 x 192 in. (244 x 488 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Joseph and Jory Shapiro Fund by exchange and restricted gift of Sara Szold, 2004.19
Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago
Richard Prince, Good News, Bad News, 1989. Acrylic and screen print on canvas; 71 x 48 in. (180.3 x 121.9 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Gerald S. Elliott Collection, 1995.82
Photo © MCA Chicago
Carroll Dunham, Yellow Planet, 1996. Mixed media on linen; 90 x 66 in. (228.6 x 167.6 cm), framed: 92 7/16 x 68 7/16 x 2 5/16 in. (234.79 x 173.83 x 5.87 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, partial and promised gift of Sara Szold, 2005.2
Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago
Chuck Close, Cindy, 1988. Oil on canvas; 100 1/8 x 84 1/8 in. (254.32 x 213.7 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Camille Oliver-Hoffmann in memory of Paul W. Oliver-Hoffmann, 1998.24. © 1988 Chuck Close
Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago
Lari Pittman, Untitled #14, 2003. Oil, lacquer, and Cel-Vinyl on gessoed canvas over wood panel; 76 x 102 in. (193 x 259.1 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Joseph and Jory Shapiro Fund by exchange, 2003.25. © 2003 Lari Pittman
Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago
Mel Ramos, Zebra, 1970. Oil on canvas; 80 x 70 in. (203.2 x 177.8 cm), framed: 82 3/4 x 70 5/8 x 2 in. (210.2 x 179.4 x 5.1 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Beatrice Cummings Mayer, 1991.88
Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA Chicago
Mark Bradford, Thriller, 2009. Mixed media collage on canvas; 101 1/2 x 143 in. (257.8 x 363.2 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Mary and Earle Ludgin by exchange, 2009.3
Photo: Nathan Keay, © MCA ChicagoAbout
Arranged in a series of constellations, or groupings, this exhibition explores various approaches to painting from the 1940s to the present, and how they communicate ideas about life and art.
All of the works in this exhibition are united by the use of paint, a brush, and a support to emphasize the complex and varied manner in which artists use similar materials. This exhibition does not seek to redefine what can be considered a painting, but rather examines how it endures as a vibrant art form, more than 100 years after it was proclaimed “dead” at the advent of photography. Clearly there is no correct way, which is why painting continues to be a source of stimulating conversation and debate. From the perspective of the artist and viewer, painting is a subjective experience.
The exhibition explores questions about the current state and future of painting by creating a dialogue with works from the past. The conversations within each section stimulate ideas about painting that are not limited to chronology or specific art historical narratives, but follow lines of thought. Within the exhibition, the constellations aim to make connections through the various interests, positions, styles, and histories that artists address within their approach to painting. For example, Constellations explores approaches to the landscape and figure, so-called “bad” painting, appropriation, collage in painting, the critique of illusion in painting, form and color, and paintings that exist in between representation and abstraction.
Augmented by major works from important private collections the exhibition highlights, for the first time, the MCA collection's particular strengths in this medium. Constellations features work by approximately 75 of the most important artists of the last 60 years, including Josef Albers, Francis Bacon, Chuck Close, Jean Dubuffet, Caroll Dunham, Jasper Johns, Sherrie Levine, Rene Magritte, Brice Marden, Roberto Matta, Rebecca Morris, Kenneth Noland, Jules Olitski, Laura Owens, Lari Pittman, Sigmar Polke, Gerhard Richter, Clare Rojas, Thomas Scheibitz, Rudolf Stingel, Yves Tanguy, and Andy Warhol, among others. Featured Chicago artists include Michelle Grabner, Kerry James Marshall, Wesley Kimler, Vera Klement, Marie Krane Bergman, Judy Ledgerwood, Angel Otero, and Scott Reeder.
This exhibition is organized by Julie Rodrigues Widholm, Pamela Alper Associate Curator.
Funding
Support for this exhibition is generously provided by the Efroymson Family Fund.
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