As we enter the month of April, the art world continues to evolve and showcase the talents of artists from around the world. From multimedia installations to paintings and sculptures, artists represent a diverse range of styles, themes, and techniques, and are pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms. Whether you are an avid collector or simply an art enthusiast, these artists are definitely worth keeping an eye on as they continue to shape the future of contemporary art. Here are some of our favorite artists on view throughout April.
Chloe West
Born 1993 in Cheyenne, WY. Lives and works in St. Louis, MO.
At her latest solo exhibition "Somebody's Sins", Chloe West explores the themes of mortality, mourning, and the relationship between the animate and inanimate, with a specific focus on the female form as the source of fertility. The artist challenges the traditional narrative of the rugged American man by positioning the female form as central to the tension between life and death. The large portraits presented in the exhibition reflect the doubt and distance between life and death. West's exploration of the female form demonstrates the potential for life and animation, as well as what remains after the death of organic material.
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Through her use of portraiture and composition, Chloe West invites viewers to reflect on the themes of mortality, mourning, and the relationship between the animate and inanimate, with a particular focus on the female form. The large portraits presented in the exhibition reflect doubt and the chasm between life and death, while also highlighting the role of the artist as creator, particularly with respect to exploring womanhood. The paintings challenge the traditional narrative of the rugged American man by recasting woman as central to the tension between life and death, and demonstrating the potential for life and animation through the female form. "Somebody's Sins" is a thought-provoking exhibition that encourages viewers to contemplate the fragility of life and the potential for renewal.
Craig Kauffman
Born 1932 in Los Angeles, CA. Died 2010 in Angeles City, Philippines.
Craig Kauffman was a renowned artist known for his vacuum-formed plastic works that showcased curving surfaces in vibrant hues. He emerged as a significant figure in the Los Angeles art scene of the 1950s and 1960s and experimented with form, color, material, and space for almost six decades. Though his plastic work earned him the characterization of a sculptor, Kauffman considered himself first and foremost as a painter. His fascination with plastic as a unique substrate for luminous and sensual color inspired him to create acrylic sheets with primary and flesh-toned compositions. His works incorporated biomorphic abstract shapes in low relief and translucent, candy-colored hues that extended further away from the wall. By the late 1960s, Kauffman had progressed to create bulbous forms called Bubbles, overlaid in pearlescent lacquers that generated atmospheric light and reflection effects.
Kauffman was primarily a painter, despite being known for his work in sculpture using plastic. He viewed plastic as a unique and transparent material that could showcase luminous and sensual colors in various forms. His experimentation with plastic began with acrylic sheets that were spray-painted in primary and flesh-toned compositions inspired by lingerie catalogs from Fredericks of Hollywood. He then moved on to incorporating biomorphic abstract shapes in low relief and translucent, candy-colored hues. Eventually, he developed his signature bulbous forms called "Bubbles," which were overlaid in pearlescent lacquers to generate atmospheric light and reflection effects. His "Loops" series involved drape-formed sheets of painted plastic that cast colorful shadows on adjacent walls, creating double hues through projected light. His latest exhibition on view through out April at Sprueth Magers, London showcases his constructed painting series from the 70s.
Marguerite Humeau
Born 1986 in Cholet, France. Lives and works in London, UK.
Marguerite Humeau's artistic practice traverses vast temporal and spatial realms, from ancient history to hypothetical futures, in her quest to unravel the enigmas of human existence. Her work involves imbuing vitality into vanished entities, be it extinct life forms or forgotten ideas, and envisioning alternative scenarios to fill gaps in our understanding. Through this process, she seeks to forge new myths that resonate with the contemporary era. One of Humeau's primary methods involves breathing life into vanished entities, such as extinct life forms or forgotten ideas, to explore the limits of our knowledge and imagination.
Humeau's work often explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, and the ways in which our species has shaped and been shaped by the environment. She has a deep fascination with prehistoric creatures, and has created sculptures and audiovisual installations that re-imagine the appearance, sounds, and movements of animals such as mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, and ancient marine reptiles. Notably, Humeau's latest exhibition is currently on display at White Cube London.
Kenneth Noland
Born 1924, Asheville, North Carolina. Died 2010, Port Clyde, Maine.
Kenneth Noland was a prominent figure in the Washington Color School, a group of artists that helped define post-war abstraction in the United States. His experimental use of color, form, and materials challenged traditional painting techniques and gave rise to radical works that redefined the medium. Noland's interest in color was sparked during his time at Black Mountain College in North Carolina, where he was exposed to the ideas of influential figures such as John Cage and Josef Albers. Throughout his career, he continued to explore the expressive potential of color, often using geometric shapes to create abstract compositions that are full of energy and movement.
Currently, Kenneth Noland's work is on view at Pace New York in an exhibition that offers visitors the opportunity to experience his innovative approach to abstraction firsthand. The exhibition showcases a range of Noland's works, including his signature color field paintings and geometric abstractions. Through these works, viewers can explore the ways in which Noland's practice continues to inspire and influence contemporary artists, and how his experiments with color and form have helped shape the course of abstract painting in the United States.
Stanley Whitney
Born 1946 in Philadelphia, PA. Lives and works in New York, NY.
Stanley Whitney is an artist who has been exploring color and composition in his paintings for several decades. His paintings typically feature monochrome blocks of oil color arranged in a compositional structure of horizontal bands. Whitney selects each color in relation to those already applied, creating a process-based approach that reveals the trace of the artist's hand through variations in brushwork.
Whitney's artistic journey towards abstraction began in the mid-1970s and was consolidated while living in Rome during the 1990s. Inspired by the ancient Roman murals and the transformative effect of light on the façades of historic buildings, Whitney developed a new understanding of color and geometry. He was also influenced by artists such as Piet Mondrian, Giorgio Morandi, and Mark Rothko, as well as American quiltmakers. Whitney's latest exhibition, currently on view at Gagosian London, showcases a series of large-scale canvases that continue his exploration of color and form. The works on display are inspired by Whitney's memories of spending time with family and friends in Italy, and they feature vibrant colors that evoke the Italian landscape and culture. Whitney's ability to create works that are both visually stunning and emotionally resonant is showcased in this latest exhibition.
Christina Quarles
Born 1985 in Chicago, IL. Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.
Christina Quarles' work deals with issues of identity, gender, race, and sexuality. Her colorful and complex paintings often depict fragmented and distorted bodies, layered with abstract shapes and patterns. Quarles's painterly formal language reflects the experience of living in a racially and sexually marginalized body, conveying the tension and struggle between external constraints and internal desires. Her work addresses the complexities of identity formation in a society that imposes rigid categories and expectations on individuals. By combining figuration and abstraction, Quarles creates visually dynamic and thought-provoking works that invite the viewer to question and reevaluate their own perceptions of the self and others.
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Christina Quarles is exhibiting for the first time in Germany at the Hamburger Bahnhof, marking her first institutional debut in Germany. Her installation includes large gauze panels that divide the exhibition space and create a theatrical atmosphere, while her painterly language expresses the experience of living in a racialized and queer body. The colors and pictorial layers in her paintings reflect the struggles of her characters as they grapple with societal constraints on their identities.
Klára Hosnedlová
Born 1990 in Uherské Hradiště, Czech Republic. Lives and works in Berlin.
Klara Hosnedlova's art is a multi-disciplinary practice that incorporates elements of craft, fashion, design, architecture, sculpture, and performance. Her work often features monumental performative sculptures suspended like clouds, which create immersive environments that are almost cinematic in quality. Hosnedlova's art is a celebration of fragmented images of a post-industrial world that is on the brink of exhaustion.
Hosnedlova draws inspiration from the modern and brutalist architecture of Central-Eastern Europe and folkloric Bohemian textile traditions. Her art is a mental spectacle that immerses the audience in a remastered investigation of the patterns of belonging. Her work invites the viewer to experience an almost haptic pastness of an unbearable nostalgia that resonates with an ancestral force towards a future post-affect body yet to be reconceived. Hosnedlova's art is a unique blend of tradition and modernity, combining elements of the past with futuristic concepts to create a powerful and evocative statement. The artist's first institutional solo exhibition is currently on view at Kestner Gesellschaft. The exhibition transforms the space into labyrinthine inner worlds by modelling rooms with voyeuristic surfaces in elaborate detail work-covered mirrors of the humanoid self.
Franz West
Born 1947 in Vienna. Died 2012 in Vienna.
Franz West was an Austrian artist who became widely recognized for his unique and playful approach to sculpture. His works often featured unconventional materials such as papier-mâché, plaster, and wire, which he used to create abstract and whimsical forms. One of his most well-known works is his series of "Adaptives," which are sculptures meant to be handled and interacted with by viewers. These pieces are designed to be held, worn, or leaned on, encouraging viewers to become an active part of the artwork. West's art challenges traditional notions of sculpture as static, untouchable objects and instead invites a more participatory experience.
West's work also explored the relationship between art and everyday life, often incorporating found objects and mundane materials into his pieces. His installations, which were often large-scale and immersive, transformed public spaces into playful and interactive environments. In addition to sculpture, West also worked in painting, collage, and performance art, and his interdisciplinary approach to artmaking continues to influence artists today. Franz West's art reflects his commitment to creating joyful and inclusive experiences that challenge conventional ideas about art and its place in society.
Olivia Jia
Born 1994 in Chicago, IL. Lives and works in Philadelphia, PL.
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Olivia Jia is a Chinese-American artist whose work explores themes of identity, cultural heritage, and memory. Jia's paintings often feature highly detailed, intricate patterns and motifs that are inspired by traditional Chinese art and textiles. She combines these elements with contemporary materials and techniques, creating a unique visual language that speaks to both her heritage and her contemporary perspective. Jia's work is both deeply personal and highly accessible, inviting viewers to connect with her experiences and ideas.
In addition to painting, Jia also works in sculpture, installation, and video art. Her interdisciplinary approach allows her to explore her ideas from a variety of angles, and she often incorporates found objects and other materials into her work. Jia's art is informed by her experiences as a Chinese-American woman, and she aims to create work that speaks to the complexity and richness of her identity. Through her art, Jia encourages viewers to embrace their own histories and identities and to celebrate the diversity of human experience.
Mark Bradford
Born 1961 in Los Angeles, CA. Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.
Mark Bradford is a renowned contemporary artist who is widely recognized for his inventive mixed-media paintings and installations that investigate themes of race, gender, identity, and urbanism. He was born in 1961 in Los Angeles and grew up in a working-class family in the South Central district. Bradford's works often incorporate found materials, such as billboard paper, posters, and fragments of urban debris, which he combines with collage, painting, and drawing techniques. His layered compositions reflect the complex cultural and social histories of the cities in which he works, and are known for their vibrant colors, abstract patterns, and intricate textures. Bradford has received numerous accolades for his contributions to contemporary art, including the MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant, the United States Artist Fellowship, and the National Medal of Arts.
Mark Bradford's art is characterized by his innovative use of materials and his exploration of social and political issues. His mixed-media paintings and installations are composed of layers of found materials, such as billboards, posters, and maps, which he transforms into complex and abstract compositions. Bradford's works often reflect the cultural and social histories of the cities in which he works, addressing themes such as race, gender, identity, and urbanism. His pieces are known for their vibrant colors, intricate textures, and dynamic compositions, which create a sense of movement and depth. Through his art, Bradford challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about contemporary society while celebrating the resilience and creativity of marginalized communities. Notably, his latest exhibition is on view at Hauser and Wirth, New York throughout April.
