Abstraction and representation weave their way through Merlin James work at Sikkema Jenkins.
Martha Schwender review the show for the
NY Times and writes
The title of this show, “Genre Paintings,” also nods to art history and the hierarchy of academic painting in which genre paintings were lower in the pecking order than history paintings. But if he is suggesting a modest role for his own paintings, Mr. James is acutely aware of the medium’s ability to transfix in an epoch notoriously characterized by perceptual distraction. Many of the paintings here have that ability, as if Mr. James alchemically extracted it from art history and injected it into the canvases, setting a trap to snare his viewers.
Check out the full review
here
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| Merlin James, Red, 2013-14, Acrylic on canvas, 17.5 x 26.5 inches |
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| detail Merlin James |
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| Merlin James, Willow, 2013-14, Acrylic on canvas, 26 x 24 inches |
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| James, detail |
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| Merlin James, Bridge & Building, 2012, Acrylic and mixed media, 20.125 x 29.125 inches |
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| detail, Merlin James |
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