Steven Assael: Paintings & Drawings at Forum Gallery

http://www.forumgallery.com/adetail.php?id=207
Steven Assael, the New York artist hailed by The Art Newspaper as "the foremost figurative painter of his generation", will exhibit his latest paintings and drawings at Forum Gallery, New York, from March 19 to May 2, 2009. The exhibition, Assaels seventh since joining the Gallery in 1998, focuses on public and private aspects of urban life and explores issues of intimacy, gender and personal identity. The portraits and narratives the artist paints touch on contact, isolation, sexuality and the journey through life.

In the paintings, Steven Assael employs his unique, characteristic sense of light and shadow to illuminate the characters and lives of his subjects. A featured painting, Crowd #1, 2009, oil on canvas, 72" x 96", was exhibited by Forum Gallery at The Armory Show Modern (New York, March 5-9) to preview the forthcoming exhibition. In this major work, Assael leaves specific location and narrative to the viewer. He shows a crowd of infinite number and depth, people to whom we relate but who do not relate to each other, no matter how close the gathering.

The drawings are striking in their detail and accuracy, always used in the interest and exploration of intimate moments of introspection. All of the drawings and paintings in the exhibition have been created since 2006.

Steven Assaels work has been exhibited in solo exhibitions at museums from Chattanooga to Seattle and at galleries throughout the United States. Works have been chosen for curated group exhibitions at the Naples Museum of Art, FL; the Arkansas Art Center, the Evansville Museum, IN; and the Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK; among many. Paintings and drawings can be found in the permanent collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art & Design, Kansas City; The Columbus Museum, GA; and many other museum and distinguished private collections.

An opening reception with the artist will take place on Thursday, March 19, 2009 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Forum Gallery, 745 Fifth Avenue at 57th Street, Fifth Floor. The exhibition continues through Saturday, May 2, 2009. A full color catalogue, with essay by Anna F. Burgess, is available, $25.00 ppd. The entire exhibition may be viewed online at www.forumgallery.com/currentseason. For more information please contact Forum Gallery: www.forumgallery.com/contactinfo.php

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Forum Gallery, New York and Los Angeles, is a leader in the field of modern and contemporary figurative art. Founded in 1961, Forum Gallery today represents thirty contemporary artists, including Odd Nerdrum, William Beckman and Robert Cottingham; and the estates of Raphael Soyer, Chaim Gross and Bernard Karfiol. International in scope, Forum Gallery is the American representative of Xenia Hausner, Michael Leonard, David Mach, Charles Matton and Peter Krausz.

Forum Gallery maintains an important inventory of American modernist and social realist art, European modernism and figurative art from 1900 to the present day. Over more than four decades in the fine art field, Forum Gallery has placed works in every major American museum and in private collections throughout the world. Forum Gallery is a founding member of the Art Dealers Association of America.

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[VenusPain1]

I love your work steven you are like a father to me your work is so amazing keep.the great work up

[midsummerunicorn]

Extremely talented artist who knows how to speak through realistic compositions. Some artists get the drawing part accurate, but fail to "say anything."

[mconesa52]

I have seen his works at the Forum Gallery… Steven Assael´s works are memories and metaphors of his surroundings and upbringing…They are nicely done and convey far more than what meet the eyes…

[konzwambii]

@bzimmie If opinions about art "exist within" the individual, then why am I not entitled to mine? I presented my ideas on art. Instead of addressing any of that, you engage only in personal insults, one after the other. You are free to admire any art you wish. Like I said, many people say they like paintings of lighthouses. Hey, that's their opinion, right? I guess that makes palette knife paintings of lighthouses on black velvet great.

[bzimmie]

@konzwambii Well i will start of by commending your grammar and amazing vocabulary. Now I will be so bold as to say that you are an ignorant, stubborn, disgruntled fool. Art is about creation. Your close minded views about what is art and what isn't take me straight to the idiocy behind musical debate. The opinion exists within the listener. That's all that matters. You think any of the great painters would frown upon any artist? I would assume any SUCCESSFUL master would be humble of any art.

[iENJOYpaintingSTUFF]

This video shall continue to inspire me for all eternity!!!!

[DirtyHotdogWater]

Steve is absolutely amazing.

[loafpork]

Nerdrum is better.