COLOR FIE LD PAINTE RS
COLOR FIELD PAINTERS j e ff d e p n e r
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g r eg o ry h ay e s
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j o h n p l at t
JUNE 28 — SEPTEMBER 8, 2018
INTRODUC TION
Nancy Margolis Gallery is pleased to announce its summer group exhibition, featuring three color field painters from the gallery’s stable of artists: Jeff Depner, Gregory Hayes, and John Platt. Each of these artists has earned a reputation for his nonrepresentational paintings in which color and form become the subject of the compositions. The gallery is excited to bring these three artists together for the first time to showcase their differing interpretations of color field painting. Jeff Depner creates bold, visually engrossing compositions through a blend of geometric and curvilinear shapes placed on top of planes of built-up color. Of the three exhibiting artists, Depner makes the strongest use of texture in his works: the viewer is aware of the artist’s hand in each of his paintings through his use of confident mark-making and crude layering of color. Depner’s color choices allow for some shapes to recede into the background, while others appear to levitate from the surface. The artist’s palette favors subdued colors, often with dramatic notes of brighter hues in the form of smaller shapes or accents, such as the red triangle clinging to the edge of a deep green canvas in Untitled (Green & White). Gregory Hayes is a brushless, series-based painter whose most recognized bodies of work, Color Array and Amalgamation, are created through a methodical process of dripping spherical beads of acrylic paint onto a flat canvas. In the case of his Color Array series, the final results are large-scale, crisply pristine compositions of
concentric squares of vibrating color harmonies. In his newer series, Ribbon, Hayes’s compositions of stacked horizontal bands of swirling color resemble flattened landscapes of softly shifting tones. No matter which series Hayes is working on, his focus trains on the formal possibilities of paint as a medium and the expressive abilities of color. The artist’s compositions do not vary greatly from one painting in a series to the next; what does change is his color palette, and therefore, the overall mood and visual impact of the particular piece. John Platt creates vertical stripes of pure color (Chord 7), free-flowing drips (River), islands of swirling gradients (No. 18), and in some canvases, an amalgamation of all these styles. In stark contrast to the looseness of River, the artist’s Chord 7 is a rhythmic dance of hard-edged stripes. Colorful bands of varying widths are slightly separated from one another so that the white-painted canvas underneath peeks through, creating a seductive luminosity. Among Platt’s inspirations are two pillars of American Abstract Expressionism, Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman. From Rothko, Platt borrows the technique of pairing multiple colors to evoke an emotional response and to stir a meditative experience. With Newman, Platt shares a bold acceptance of chance and spontaneity, allowing his work to continuously evolve. Platt’s paintings are strongly individualistic, however, and while he draws inspiration from past masters his final products are rooted in sources that are unique to the artist: his memories, his surroundings, and the spirit of his time.
J EFF DE PN E R | ARTIST STATEMENT
Constructed to pit architectonic organization against the organic, my paintings explore compositional structure through the relationship between colors. Forms are created through cause and effect, wherein each layer interacts with its predecessor, creating a functioning system of parts. As a whole, these units combine to create a sort of ‘abstract sign’ operating separately from speech and writing patters.
Untitled (Green & White) 2016 Acrylic & oil on canvas 25 x 21 inches
Collapsing Opposites 2016 Oil on canvas 16 x 12 inches
Clutch 2016 Oil on canvas 18 x 14 inches
Twice Removed 2016 Oil on canvas 28 x 22 inches
Untitled I 2016 Oil on canvas 45 x 30 inches
J E FF D E PN E R
Lives and works in Vancouver, Canada
EDUCATION 1994-1998 Capilano University, Vancouver SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2018 “Organized!” Parts Gallery, Toronto, Canada 2017 “Vague Affinities,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY 2015 “New Positions,” ART COLOGNE w/Galerie Anke Schmidt, Cologne, Germany 2014 “Pulling Teeth,” Galerie Anke Schmidt, Cologne, Germany 2013 “Variations:Black Napkins,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY 2012 “Forming,” Parts Gallery, Toronto, Canada 2011 “Plus/Minus,” Parts Gallery, Toronto, Canada 2008 “Reconfigured Grids,” the Jeffrey Boone Gallery, Vancouver, Canada 2007 “Plexus,” the Jeffrey Boone Gallery, Vancouver, Canada 2006 “Regenerating The Past, Proposition For The Future,” the Jeffrey Boone Gallery, Vancouver, Canada SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2018 2018 2017 2016 2015 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2012
“Color Field Painters,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY “For What’s It Worth,” Galerie Anke Shmidt, Cologne, Germany “Art Toronto,” Parts Gallery, Toronto, Canada 2 Person show w/Richard Storms at Gallery Jones, Vancouver, Canada “Avoidance Of The Real,” Gallery Jones, Vancouver, Canada “Cast Party,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY “Scope Basel,” Aureus Contemporary, New York, NY “Buddy System,” Breeze Block Gallery, Portland, OR “Brilliant Optics,” the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, IN “Wider Than A Postcard,” Breeze Block Gallery, Portland, OR “Art Cologne,” Galerie Schmidt Maczollek, Cologne, Germany “Truly Victorious,” Aureus Contemporary, New York, NY “Scope New York,” Aureus Contemporary, New York, NY “Context Miami,” Aureus Contemporary, New York, NY “The Diamond Sea,” FFDG, San Fransisco, CA
2012 “Watch What Happened!” Martin Creed, Dadamaino, Fabian Marcacchio, Steven Parrino, Gunter Umberg at Galerie Schmidt Maczollek, Cologne, Germany 2012 “Intersections,” Luce Meunier and Jeanie Riddle at Galerie Antoine Ertaskiran, Montreal, Canada 2012 “Space/Form,” Breeze Block Gallery, Portland, OR 2012 “Scope Basel,” Aureus Contemporary, New York, NY 2012 “Inaugural Group Show,” Galerie Antoine Ertaskiran, Montreal, Canada 2012 “Scope New York,” Aureus Contemporary, New York, NY 2012 “Scope Miami,” Aureus Contemporary, New York, NY 2011 “Art Toronto,” Parts Gallery, Toronto, Canada 2011 “Monomania,” Trench Contemporary Art, Vancouver, Canada 2010 “So Far,” Trench Contemporary Art, Vancouver, Canada 2010 “Aftermath,” Russell Leng, Aaron Moran and Sarah Gee, East Van Studios, Vancouver, Canada 2010 “Art Toronto,” Parts Gallery, Toronto, Canada 2010 “Work/Play,” two person exhibition w/ Martie Giefert at Parts Gallery, Toronto, Canada 2008 Toronto International Art Fair w/ the Jeffrey Boone Gallery, Vancouver, Canada 2008 “Spring Salon,” the Jeffrey Boone Gallery, Vancouver, Canada 2008 “Scape,” w/ Sylvia Grace Borda and Monique Genton at the Jeffrey Boone Gallery, Vancouver, Canada 2007 Toronto International Art Fair w/ the Jeffrey Boone Gallery, Vancouver, Canada BIBLIOGRAPHY 2018 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011 2008
German Art, February ARTBOX Magazine Issue #19 Rising-Young Artists To Keep An Eye On!, published by Daab Otherworldliness(Ruby Mag) published by Gestalten R.M. Vaughn, ‘Jeff Depner’-The Globe and Mail SNAP Magazine Issue #15 Magnum Opus Issue #1
G REGORY HAYES | ARTIST STATEM ENT
I had a thought once that we were all roses, all growing from the same stem, all expressing our essence in a unique way, but all rooted in the same soil. After, when it started to rain and I saw the droplets kiss the ground and disappear into the earth—I knew what love was. -gdh The magic of the flower I like how a flower can be so expressive. The variety of intensity and value in a flower’s color, and the complexity of its shape make it seem like each petal is a unique composition, each stem a random happening. Although when you look at it from a different perspective, a majority of the flower’s properties come from a systemic configuration: its patterns, color, and form are built from repetition and regularity. The magic of the flower is the balancing act maintained so well between its systemic and expressive nature. That to me makes looking at a flower an almost endless activity; a single blossom is an abundant display of beauty and mystery. Its shapes and colors constantly reveal the magnitude of details embedded in its mathematically fashioned form, but within the flower’s complexity there is an aura of effortlessness. It is this type of balance I strive to realize in my paintings. I want the colors to allure and captivate, but also to create tension and disarray; the structure to hold symmetry and balance, but also bend and wane organically. And the patterns to keep the viewer’s eye moving through the picture plane, or lead to fixating on a complex grouping of colors. However, the paintings are not necessarily about concentration or constant stimulation for the mind, or figuring something out. Rather, they are a place where the eye and mind can come across a sense of joy and stillness, a place where color and structure do not need to be thought about, but felt.
Untitled (BCyCr) 2018 Acrylic on canvas 60 x 60 inches
1st Ribbons 2018 Acrylic on canvas 63 x 60 inches
Untitled (YB) 2016 Acrylic on paper 24 x 24 inches
2nd Amalgamation 2012 Acrylic on paper 48 x 48 inches
2nd - 10th Amalgamation 2017 Acrylic on paper 14 x 12 inches each
G R EG O RY HAY E S
Born in 1980 in Buffalo, New York Lives and works in Brooklyn, New York EDUCATION 2011 M.F.A., Painting, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY 2006 B.F.A., Painting, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, Lakewood, CO SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2018 “The Bird is the Wind.” Galerie Deux6, Paris, France 2017 “Dawn of a new day.” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY 2016 “I am the sun,” Francesca Antonini Arte Contemporanea, Rome, Italy 2015 “Stay Gold,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY 2014 “Shooting Star,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY 2010 “Re-Seeing,” Rule Gallery, Denver, CO 2008 “Primary Array,” Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, Denver, CO “Selected Works,” City & County Building, Denver, CO 2007 “Array,” Rhinoceropolis Gallery, Denver, CO 2006 “Machine,” Institute for Experimental Studies, Denver CO SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2018 “Color Field Painters,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY “Presence | Absense,” Ncontemporary, Milan, Italy “Ruminate,” Cal State Fullerton Begovich Gallery, Fullerton, CA “I Dare! | Dare I?” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY 2017 “Arte Fiera,” Francesca Antonini Arte Contemporanea, Bologna, Italy 2016 “When Something Happens Again It Starts To Feel Normal,” Ncontemporary, Turin, Italy “Young International Artists,” Francesca Antonini Arte Contemporanea, Paris, France “Gallery Artists: Pre-Christmas Exhibition,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY “Gregory Hayes / Nadir Valente,” Ncontemporary, London, UK “Intent Fortuity,” Jamie Brooks Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA “Small Works: More or Less,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY 2015 “The Others Fair,” Ncontemporary, Turin, Italy 2014 “White | Black,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY “Miami Project,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, Miami, FL “Summer Preview,” Victori Contemporary, New York, NY
“Outline: Beyond the Grid,” Jamie Brooks Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA “Aqua14,” Victori Contemporary, Miami, FL “Scope Basel,” Victori Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland “Art Wynwood,” Victori Contemporary, Miami, FL “Artmix,” Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder, CO 2013 “Aqua13,” Victori Contemporary, Miami, FL “Emerge,” Victori Contemporary, Washington D.C. “Disposition,” Blank Space Gallery, New York, NY “Artmix,” Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder, CO “14th Annual Fire Island Pines Art Show,” Whyte Hall, Fire Island Pines, NY “The Wassaic Project Summer Festival,” The Maxon Mills, Wassaic, NY “Scope Basel,” Victori Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland “Art Wynwood,” Victori Contemporary, Miami, FL 2012 “Scope Miami,” Victori Contemporary, Miami, FL “Art Bash,” D Gallery, Denver, CO “Spring Group Exhibition,” Brenda Taylor Gallery, New York, NY “25th Annual National Works on Paper,” Abercrombie Gallery, Lake Charles, LA “Made in NY,” Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, Auburn, NY 2011 “Introductions,” Brooklyn Artists Gym, Brooklyn, NY “Works in Progress,” ArtBridge, Atlantic Yards, Brooklyn, NY “13th Annual Fire Island Pines Art Show,” Whyte Hall, Fire Island Pines, NY “The Wassaic Project Summer Festival,” The Maxon Mills, Wassaic, NY “Do It,” Philip J. Steele Gallery, Denver, CO “Memory Palace,” Flux Factory, Brooklyn, NY “Hybrid Life Forms,” In Rivers, Brooklyn, NY “College Art Association New York Area MFA Exhibition,” New York, NY “North American Graduate Art Survey,” Nash Gallery, Minneapolis, MN 2010 “Art Bash,” Robischon Gallery, Denver, CO “Feast of Fools,” Second-Floor, Brooklyn, NY “Learning Curve,” Marian Spore, Brooklyn, NY 2009 “Curly-Q,” Jack The Pelican Presents Gallery, Brooklyn, NY “Winter Mt. Dew Tour: Featured Artist,” Northstar Resort, CA
2007 2006
“Peep Show,” Rule Gallery, Denver, CO “Red Dot Fair,” Rule Gallery, New York, NY “Juried Show,” Pirate Gallery, Denver, CO “XX/YY: The Gender Show,” Flash Gallery, Belmar, CO
HONORS 2012 2011 2005
& AWARDS McNeese National Works on Paper, Juror’s Mention Award (Selected by Lynn Gumpert) Dave Bown Projects, “3rd Semiannual Competition,” selected artist ArtBridge “Works in Progress” Honorarium (Selected by Vik Muniz, Amani Olu, and Eugenie Tsai) College Art Association Professional Development Honorable Mention in the Fine Arts Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, Most Distinguished Artist
RESIDENCIES 2012 Millay Colony, Austerlitz, NY 2011 Fire Island Pines Arts Project, Fire Island, NY BIBLIOGRAPHY 2017 Art in Write Out, “Recensioni Arte Contemporanea Roma,” Blog post. February 1 Design and Style Report, “Weekend,” Image of artwork, Blog post. January 7 Sabrina Vedovotto, “Amore Che Vieni Amore Che Vai (Ovvero Della Pittura),” Exibart, January 4 Eleonora Scoccia, “Gregory Hayes. I am the sun.,” Exibart, February 13 2016 Delia Pizzuti, “‘I’m the sun’” goccia su goccia, l’infinitamente grande e piccolo di Gregory Hayes,” ArteMagazine, December 27 2015 Noémie Jennifer, “The Price to Pay: Artists Weight in on Getting an MFA,” Blog Post, The Creators Project, August 25 2014 Kyle Fitzpatrick, “Gregory Hayes Paints Detailed Microcosms,” Blog post, The Fox is Black, April 8 Daniel Gauss, “Shooting Star by Gregory Hayes at Nancy Margolis Gallery,” Review, Blog post, Arte Fuse Magazine, June 5 “Gregory Hayes: Shooting Star,” Wall Street International, May 17
Joanne Mattera, “Centering,” Blog post, Joanne Mattera Art Blog, April 24 2012 Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, “Alumni Spotlight,” The Dome, January 25 2011 Melissa Bozin, “ArtBridge decorates Brooklyn,” Brooklyn Downtown Star, October 26 The Brooklyn Review, Images of Artwork, Issue 28, 43 Kyle MacMillan, “Offbeat art approach: ‘Do It,’ and then undo it at Denver exhibit,” Denver Post, May 27 Michael Fahlund, “CAA Awards MFA Fellowships to Five Artists,” February 2 2010 Leanne Goebel, “RULE Gallery Champions Young Artists in 4.0,” Huffington Post, December 5 Michael Paglia, “Artbeat: Gregory Hayes: Re-Seeing New Works, at Rule Gallery,” Westword, October 27 Kyle MacMillan, “On Point,” Denver Post, November 12 Ellen Berkovitch, “Review: Contemporary Art & Architecture in Denver,” Adobe Airstream, October 24 Anne Johnson, “Brooklyn College MFA Open Studio,” Art Fag City, April 12 2009 Nomad Art and World Magazine, Image of artwork, Issue 1, 12 2007 Mary Chandler, “RULE Show a Display of Veterans, New Artists,” Rockey Mountain News, January 19
JOH N PL AT T | ARTIST STATEM ENT
What has always fascinated me about abstraction is a fascination with the unknown. In my work I have always been drawn to that feeling of something which is represented, but not seen; felt but not necessarily understood. These works are a reflection of that feeling using the language of pure color — an irresistible language because of its vastness. You never really know how a certain shade of blue will sit next to a certain shade of red, but you do know that both of those colors are forever changed in the human eye by their coexistence.
River 2018 Enamel on canvas 24 x 72 inches
No. 18 2018 Enamel on canvas 24 x 24 inches
Chord 7 2017 Oil on canvas 24 x 36 inches
J O H N PL AT T
Born in 1984 in New York City, NY Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY EDUCATION School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2018 2017 2014 2012 2011 2010
Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY Julie Keyes Projects, Palm Beach, FL “Portraits 2014,” Gallery 151, New York, NY “Selected Paintings,” The Cityfirm, New York, NY “Private Conversations,” ArtNow, New York, NY “Interchange,” Gallery 151, New York, NY “Downtown 2010,” Gallery 151, New York, NY
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2018 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2002
“Color Field Painters,” Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York, NY “Polish,” Rox Gallery, New York, NY “Rock Them,” Rox Gallery, New York, NY “Art in the Yard,” The Jewish Center, Easthampton, NY “Young Art,” Contemporary Space, Dublin, Ireland “Group Show,” Rodriguez Gallery, Miami, FL “Inside Out,” Wei Gallery, Singapore “Spring Forward,” Gallery 151, New York, NY “Group Show,” Gallery 151, New York, NY “Traces,” Gallery Now, Stockholm, Sweden “Green Light Go,” Gallery 151, New York, NY “December Group Show,” Northern Projects, Seattle, WA “Annual Salon Show,” SMFA Boston, MA, Special Jury Prize “The New Portrait,” Fort Point Gallery, Boston, MA “Student Annual Show,” SMFA Boston, MA “Summer 2007 Group Show,” New England Art Center, Boston, MA “Group Show,” Calumet Gallery, Boston, MA “Student Salon Show,” SMFA Boston, MA Manhattanville, Arts Program group show
Please contact the gallery for more information: margolis@nancymargolisgallery.com 212 242 3013 523 West 25 Street New York NY 10001 www.nancymargolisgallery.com
Catalog Š 2018 NANCY MARGOLIS GALLERY Courtesy of Nancy Margolis Gallery, New York All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any other means, electronic or mechanical now known or hereafter invented, without written permission of publisher.