Tomorrow Saturday, February 23 2013, New York blue-chip gallerist
Marianne Boesky is opening a show on the work of Chicago-based artist William
J. O’Brien (b. 1975). Titled “Wet n’Wild”
the exhibition showcases the young artist’s talents in sculpture, mix-media and
works on paper. Though it’s hard to
judge an artist by a few works, my favorite were the colorful ornamental geometric
abstractions that reminded me of works by Swiss painter Paul Klee and Brazilian
artist Beatriz Milhazes. They made me smile.
Perhaps what’s so seductive about O’Brien’s art is that you
don’t have to think too hard to enjoy it.
His colored pencil patterns on paper are psychedelic and have a naïve
child-like quality to them that’s uplifting.
In watching my 5-year old niece draw, I realize that most of the time she
just goes with the flow and something eventually comes out that she enjoys. The design develops as she proceeds;
something O’Brien is akin to doing as well.
Somewhere in history, fine art became something only brainy
and deeply complex minds could understand (or so that’s what the high priests
in the art world want you to think) and labeling a painting “decorative”
somehow made it of a lesser category.
Certainly this has been the case since the 16th century when different
types of art commanded higher prices. So
for example, religious scenes commanded more than depictions of fruits and
vegetables.
Today’s contemporary art market has turned that on its head
(though many in the scene still adhere to the pedantic label for mainly snooty
reasons) with numerous ornamental works commanding extremely high prices for
their decorative appeal. Marianne Boesky, is one gallerist that is not afraid of including artists that may be
labeled as “decorative” within the group of artists she represents. She is a
pro, having helped start the careers of some of today’s stellar artists such as
Murakami, Nara, Furnas and Yuskavage. But
take note, “decorative” does NOT mean “without merit”, there is a difference which
I will address another time!
image credits: Marianne Boesky, Chelsea Gallery, New York
who represents the artist. The exhibition runs through 23 March 2013.
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