Independent 20th Century
"It’s an Elastic Idea of What Constitutes the Contemporary’: Independent Art Fair’s First Fall Edition Will Focus on 20th-Century Art"
—Artnet News
The Haitian-born American artist Paul Gardère, presented by Soft Network, found in painting “a way to reconcile the conditions of his exile”, writes Will Fenstermaker. Distilling influences from Haitian Vodou and Western art, Gardère developed “an iconographic language that was capacious and beautiful enough to express the nuances and paradoxes of Kreyòl identity”.
Best known as a writer and activist at the vanguard of second-wave feminism, Kate Millett is at last receiving recognition for her visual art practice, explored in a new essay by Francesca Gavin. Millett’s 1960s sculpture series Fantasy Furniture, presented by Salon 94 Design, “plays with ideas of fetishism, the meaning of objects, and social interaction with ease and accessibility”, she writes.
Cassie Packard evaluates the legacy of Robert Duran, who went against the grain of the 1960s to 70s New York art scene when he pivoted from Minimalist sculpture to abstract painting. Duran’s canvases, showing with Karma, “were populated by idiosyncratic floating forms” in luminous colours. “Like patterned textiles or aerial topographies, the paintings had no center, no destination. What was Duran charting?”
Hunter Braithwaite revisits the surreal life and work of Stanislao Lepri ahead of Galleria Tommaso Calabro’s solo presentation at the fair. Lepri abandoned a career in diplomacy to pursue art and romance with his lover and fellow painter Leonor Fini. His uncanny compositions “drew upon childhood memories, the visual culture of his native Rome, and Biblical and classical fables—all filtered through his own subconscious”.
Thomas Micchelli explores how Ron Gorchov carved “a creative path both uniquely personal and, over time, broadly influential” following the making of his “saddle” and “shield” paintings in the late 1960s. Gorchov’s work, presented by Cheim & Read, proved inspirational for a generation of artists “whose postmodernist sensibilities viewed painting as an object in space as much as a set of ideas laid down in pigment”.
Gabriella Angeleti looks at the Brazilian visionary Francisco “Chico” da Silva, a self-taught artist of Indigenous descent presented by São Paulo gallery Galatea. Chico’s fantastical work was championed by a Swiss art critic who catapulted him to fame in the 1950s. Angeleti traces the artist’s extraordinary rise, his fall into obscurity, and the gallery’s mission to revive his legacy for a new generation.
Agnieszka Gratza discusses the “beguiling yet fragile” creations of the Polish artist Barbara Levittoux-Świderska, the subject of a solo presentation by Richard Saltoun that will span six decades of her practice. The artist’s love for nature informed both her signature hand-woven fiber pieces and her collages with ephemeral organic materials.
James Fuentes will present the visceral figurative work of the pioneering feminist painter Juanita McNeely. In a new essay, art critic Philomena Epps writes: “McNeely’s practice has been irrevocably shaped by her own bodily circumstances… Her pioneering and unbridled confrontation of taboo imagery merits comparison with that of Frida Kahlo and Paula Rego.”
Art historian Silvia Loreti discusses the genesis and meaning of the Gladiators, an enigmatic series of paintings executed by the Italian modern master Giorgio de Chirico in the late 1920s and presented by Nahmad Contemporary. Her exclusive essay explores the concealed satire that lies behind the artist’s curiously “indolent, unfit, unproductive, and emasculated” gladiator figures.
John Chiaverina interviews Joe Ray ahead of the artist’s upcoming solo presentation with Diane Rosenstein Gallery. Now 78, Ray looks back on a career spanning seven decades, multiple Los Angeles art scenes, and various media, from sculpture and painting to photography and performance. “I’ve always tried to be free in my approach to making art,” Ray says.
“Independent has a near cult status among art world insiders, consistently serving up intriguing, original contemporary art.”
– The Wall Street Journal
Voices on Art
with Marcio Botner
In this podcast episode, we interview Marcio Botner who is the director of Rio de Janeiro-based gallery, A Gentil Caricoa. The gallery will feature works by Brazilian-based artist Vinicius Gerheim in a solo presentation.
In collaboration with Voices on Art
VOICES ON ART
with Peter Nadin
The latest podcast episode features guest Peter Nadin. Off Paradise will present a dual presentation with paintings by Peter Nadin and Maximillian Schubert. This intergenerational presentation will bring together Nadin’s House and Dream, whose companion painting is in the Met’s collection, and Schubert’s Nocturnes, which features color for the first time in the artist’s work.
In collaboration with Voices on Art
VOICES ON ART
with RJ Messineo
We interview artist RJ Messineo ahead of their solo presented by Morán Morán. The artist talks about painting as a life need. For Messineo, they understand painting as a motor that propels themselves forward. They follow that path by listening, receiving, and paying close attention to that process.
In Collaboration with Voices on Art
VOICES ON ART
with Nick Olney
Kasmin's Director, Nicholas Olney, discusses the gallery's leadership and trajectory of its artistic program since the founder's passing in 2020. Kasmin's team has selected and invited many new artists to their roster. One of which is vanessa german, a Pittsburgh-based sculpture artist whose solo presentation at Independent is highly anticipated.
In collaboration with Voices on Art
Voices on Art
with Audie Murray
In our latest podcast episode, we interview artist Audie Murray ahead of her New York debut presented by Fazakas Gallery. She touches on the influence of her Métis heritage, an Indigenous group of Canada, and the importance of incorporating traditional craft in modern times.
In collaboration with Voices on Art
Voices on Art
with Frank Maresca
In this episode, we interviewed Frank Maresca, a legendary gallerist focusing on self-taught artists. Ricco/Maresca will present the late Paddy Bedford's work, which draws on his Indigenous Australian heritage
In collaboration with Voices on Art
Voices on Art
with Sophie Barber
We interview Sophie Barber ahead of her anticipated New York debut, to be presented by Alison Jacques. THis captivating discussion celebrates Barber's uniquely bright perspective on art-making.
In collaboration with Voices on Art
Voices on Art
with Jennifer Bolande
The Los Angeles based artist will present an overview of her works with Magenta Plains in May. In this engaging discussion Bolande goes over her career which spans 30 years, from the beginning to growing through unknown spaces.
In collaboration with Voices on Art
Fair Enough
Conversations Around a Sustainable Future in the Art World
This discussion includes a variety of perspectives on what art's potential can be to effect new frameworks in an ever changing society.
In collaboration with CROZIER
3-up
Fair Enough
Purpose Driven Collecting
This discussion ranges on a variety of perspectives on what thoughtful art collecting can be, from a less is more approach, to ethics on what art is represented in museums for reflecting our society, artistic and social movements.
in collaboration with CROZIER
Fair Enough
Design and Technology for a Sustainable Future
This discussion ranges on a variety of perspectives on what our future impact can be, from a less is more approach both online and in terms of our carbon footprint.
in collaboration with CROZIER
Fair Enough
A Look at Art's Potential to Reflect Society and Influence Progress
The inaugural episode of Fair Enough: Conversations Around a Sustainable Future in the Art World, a podcast produced by Independent. This discussion includes a variety of perspectives on what art's potential can be to effect new frameworks in an ever changing society.
In collaboration with Crozier
