NEW YORK—From afar, Marc Bradford’s large-scale works look like abstract paintings with amazing palettes culled by a color expert. But up close, the details of the beautifully hued canvases reveal themselves.
On view at Sikkema Jenkins, Bradford’s new works are collages composed of multiple layers of found paper that create visually intriguing patterns. The Los Angeles-based artist further defines the cleverly titled works with precise cuts and rhythmic tears that replicate the street grids and topographical elevations of maps.
Installation view: From left, “You Have Murdered Me,” “Promise Land” and “Fuhgitfulness.”
A dynamic artist whose early creativity was fueled by countless hours spent at his mother’s beauty salon, Bradford finally pursued a fine art education when he was in his 30s. Learn “How He Made It,” and more about his background and work at Art21 and The Mark Bradford Project, a collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
The solo exhibition is Bradford’s third at Sikkema Jenkins, where his works are on view from Nov. 21 to Dec. 22, 2012. (The show first opened on Oct. 27 and was originally planned to run until Dec. 15, but it was temporarily suspended a few days after it debuted while the gallery recovered from Hurricane Sandy damage, and weeks later reopened with revised dates.)
All photos © Arts Observer
“Them Big Old Titties.”
Installation view: From left, “Them Big Old Titties” and “Father You Have Murdered Me.”
Detail of “You Have Murdered Me,” 2012 (mixed-media collage on canvas).
“Lead Belly,” 2012 (mixed-media collage on canvas).
Detail of “Promise Land,” 2012 (mixed-media collage on canvas).
“We May Be Running Out of a Past,” 2012 (mixed-media collage on canvas).
Detail of “We May Be Running Out of a Past.”
“Her Mouth Across the Table,” 2012 (mixed-media collage on canvas).
Detail of “Them Big Old Titties,” 2012 (mixed-media collage on canvas).