an art lover on Preview Night sporting an awesome shirt
Last year, I observed that the Houston Fine Art Fair had some seriously bad art, but I also happily discussed the art I found admirable. This fair, smaller than less year (like TCAF), had less to recommend it. It was an improvement in some ways over the previous HFAF--last year, I counted at least five Marilyn Monroe images. This year, there was only one that I noticed.
Craig Alan, Trance, oil on canvas, 48 x 48 at Lawrence Cantor Fine Art
Craig Alan, Trance (detail), oil on canvas, 48 x 48 at Lawrence Cantor Fine Art
Craig Alan's Trance, if you look very close at the canvas, is quite charming. The little grey and white figures, wandering hither and yon--it's like an abstraction of Washington Square Park on a fall afternoon in a world where top hats are really popular. It's only when you step away that your good feelings are rudely deflated.
But this year there were fewer Marilyns and fewer celebrities in general. But you can't fully escape them at the HFAF.
STARS!
Alexi Torres, John Lennon, oil on canvas, 72 x 68 at Evan Lurie Gallery
It wouldn't be HFAF without at least one John Lennon and one painting by Alexi Torres.
Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger, 141, 1975, screenprint, 44 x 29 inches at Adamar Fine Arts
And there are always a few blue chip artists at HFAF. This Andy Warhol reminds you why his reputation deservedly nosedived in the 70s.
Jörg Döring, Champion, mixed media on canvas, 51 x 51 inches at Brisset Art Gallery
Jörg Döring, Fly first class, mixed media on canvas, 59 x 59 inches at Brisset Art Gallery
Rolland Berry, David Bowie Ziggy Stardust, 24 x 24 inches, mixed media at Lawrence Cantor Fine Art
Rolland Berry, Sex Pistols, 24 x 24 inches, mixed media at Lawrence Cantor Fine Art
Any picture of the Sex Pistols that leaves out Paul Cook and Steve Jones is an abomination in my view. (Not to mention Glenn Matlock.)
I was a teenager once--I had posters of rock stars on my walls. But when I became a man, I put away childish things. Perhaps A.O. Scott was right.
HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!
Then there was the art at HFAF that seemed desperately happy. I wonder about the need to surround yourself with artwork so affirming that it borders on oppressive.
Bernard St. Maxent, Love in Pink, mixed media, 100 x 100 cm. at Frederic Got
The French are so sophisticated!
Bernard St. Maxent, Trois Art, mixed media, 110 x 110 cm. at Frederic Got
Mackenzie Thorpe at Murloge Gallery/Off the Wall Gallery
Mackenzie Thorpe at Murioge Gallery/Off the Wall Gallery
Mackenzie Thorpe at Murioge Gallery/Off the Wall Gallery
It would be easy to make fun of Mackenzie Thorpe's art, but I don't necessarily see anything wrong with happy decorative objects. They look like the kind of things you would give your mom on Mother's day--and there's nothing wrong with that. What I don't get is why are these in an art fair? Can't you get stuff like this in gift shops all over the world for a fraction of the price? Is this gallery trying to make a case that this stuff is art?
MONEY!
Gaston Ugalde at PSH Projects
For some strange reason, there is always a lot of art that has to do with money at art fairs. I can't figure it out! What's the connection between "art" and "money"?
Nelson de La Nuez, Take the Money and Run, Hand painted mixed media on canvas at Bruce Lurie
Paul Rousso, A Thousand Going Twice, mixed media on hand sculpted acrylic, 44 x 39 x 7 inches at George Billis Gallery
Now admittedly some people might call this art crass and idiotic. What people, you ask? Poor people.
Andy Warhol, $ (Quadrant) II.283, screenprint on Lenox Board, 40 x 32 inches at Adamar Fine Art
The most reliable way of determining whether art is great or not is how well it flatters rich people, and no one was better at that than Andy Warhol. That's why he was and remains the greatest contemporary artist.
Ken Little, Pledge, 2002, $1 bills over a steel frame, 71 x 31 x 17 inches at d.m. allison
Ken Little, bubby--you just don't get it. You can't flatter the rich with a bunch of one dollar bills. Your sculptures and collages may be witty and clever, but they're chump change.
Ken Little, Pledge, 2002, $1 bills over a steel frame, 72 x 32 x 23 inches at d.m. allison
Ken Little, Pledge, 2008, found object collage at d.m. allison
LENTICULARIFIC!
We live in a high-tech age, and that's reflected in art. We see robotic art, internet art, interactive art, LED art, etc. But the most exciting high tech art of all uses the technology that brought us winking postcards from Stuckey's and turns it into art. Yes, I'm talking about lenticular images.
Park Hyung-Jin, Peace of mind, 2014, mixed media on lenticular screen, 80 x 80 cm
The eyes--so haunting!
Park Hyung-Jin, Redemption_02, 2013, mixed media on lenticular screen, 105 x 105 cm
They're birds but they fishes but then they birds again oh jeez. MIND. BLOWN.
Jeff Robb, Unnatural Causes #4, lenticular photographic print, 40 x 40 inches
Jeff Robb produces the perfect art for the hip dude-bro pad--it's the art equivalent of two girls fake making out at a bar in Midtown. It's not sleazy, bro--it's art!
by Banksy. I didn't know anyone actually liked his work. You can have this moving monument to the human spirit for just $67,500.
