On Wednesday, Nov. 2, art enthusiasts flocked to a historic five-story townhouse on the Upper East Side, to browse the beautiful pairing of the works of John Chamberlain and Willem de Kooning.
The works were displayed in an open two-level exhibition in the Mnuchin Gallery, established in 1993; the Mnuchin Gallery has seen years of captivating abstract art.
The exhibition brings 12 of Chamberlain’s sculptures together with seven de Kooning paintings, presenting a saturated aesthetic dialogue. The open space of the gallery has enough room for the viewer to glide over from de Kooning’s bold strokes to be absorbed in Chamberlains colorful welded sculptures, which are usually creations from crushed car parts.
Chamberlain’s sculptures can be seen as a translation of the vibrant abstract expressionist paintings into three-dimensional forms. The artist was deeply influenced by abstract expressionist painters, but took a unique interest in de Kooning. He spent years following his work, and attending his gallery openings. When viewed together, one can definitely see how the sculptures and paintings have a distinct rhythm, allowing the two to flow together. The colorful crushed metals and the rounded curves in Chamberlain’s sculptures compliment the bright layered colors and arching lines of de Kooning’s canvases. To echo The New York Times, this exhibition is a must-see for your November gallery crawls.
The Chamberlain / de Kooning exhibition is on view from Nov. 2 through Dec. 22, located at 45 E 78th St.
The Mnuchin Gallery hours are:
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.