Magenta Plains

About the Gallery
Magenta Plains is a contemporary art gallery founded in 2016 by David Deutsch, Chris Dorland, and Olivia Smith. The gallery originally opened on the Lower East Side and recently relocated to a multi floor 4,500 square foot space at the intersection of Canal Street and Bowery. With an intergenerational emphasis, the gallery's mission is to foster context and meaning for the development of new ideas and emerging art as well as to present and preserve older generations of artists' work.  

The gallery represents artists including Jennifer Bolande, Ebecho Muslimova, Rachel Rossin, Ken Lum, Zach Bruder, Don Dudley, the Estate of Barbara Ess, Tiril Hasselknippe, Jibade-Khalil Huffman, Alex Kwartler, Liza Lacroix, Anne Libby, Chason Matthams, Peter Nagy, and Bill Saylor.  Additionally, the gallery presents a dynamic discourse through its program of curated group shows and project-based solo exhibitions including Sascha Braunig, Danica Lundy, and David Ostrowski.  

Magenta Plains has presented memorable historical solo exhibitions including William Wegman’s rare, altered photographs and drawings from the 1970s and 80s, Lillian Schwartz’ critically acclaimed debut New York solo gallery show at age 89, German artist Georg Herold’s caviar paintings and sculptures, as well as collages and moving image from acclaimed experimental filmmaker Stan VanDerBeek.

About the presentation
Magenta Plains will present recent paintings by Jane Swavely and historical paintings by Alan Uglow (1941–2011). The artists’ first dual presentation pays homage to painterly conversations specific to the downtown New York scene of the late 20th century. Uglow and Swavely were both influenced by the avant-garde culture percolating in the Bowery while maintaining distinctive minimalist visions relating to color and phenomenology. Working serially over many decades, British-born Uglow developed a unique approach to abstraction characterized by meticulous attention to scale, composition, and the relationship of his paintings to the surrounding space. With their references to natural landscapes and cinematic elements, Swavely’s abstract compositions attempt to reconcile minimalism and romanticism.