08.03.2009 00:19
I spent some time checking out art at the fairs this weekend. With all of the talk about the art market being dead and the downturn meaning only big names will be shown because nobody can take a risks on unknowns, I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of hot work I saw from artists I wasn't yet familiar with.
At the Bridge Art Fair, Latvian Gallery Bastejs had work by two artists that I loved: one for her dour portraits of children in somber colors and the other for her bright pop art palette and simplistic forms.
It's funny, I didn't used to be so into "small" art. I preferred works at least 5+ feet wide and equally as high to anything smaller. As with everything, my taste is constantly evolving, or changing as the case may be.
Jana Birke's work is not tiny, but she creates pieces that are relatively small in size. What caught my eye was the somber palette and the dark, creepy air the works gave off. If there'd only been one piece, I can honestly say, I'm not sure I would have even noticed. With 10-12 pieces grouped on one wall, though, Birke's work was hard to miss. Check out more works from the artist on the gallery's site and a few pics I've posted below. I think it's sort of subjective, but I have a feeling you'll like what you see.
In stark contrast to Brike's work are the super bright, highly saturated paintings by Helena Heinrihsone. Despite there being only one painting in the booth, it would be nearly impossible to pass by and not take note. The piece -- Two -- is my favorite of her work shown on the gallery's site. Heinrihsone's palette is bold and bright with simple shapes and compositions that are engaging and pleasing to the eye. In some of her works, she makes use of skulls, which I keep saying I'm so over, but, as the Warhol skull image used as the wallpaper on my Blackberry can atest to, I'm not quite finished with yet.
Check out Gallery Bastejs' site. It's exciting to see what's going on in places other than New York, London, and the few other art centers of the world.
