EFAbstract

January 15–March 8, 2020

Artists: Clytie Alexander, Vicky Colombet, Sally Egbert, Suzan Frecon, Katinka Mann, Heather Bause Rubinstein, Suzanne Song, Dannielle Tegeder, Marjorie Welish

Curated By: Bill Carroll

Opening Reception and Curatorial Walkthrough:
Wednesday, January 15, 2020, 5-8 PM
RSVP here for the event.

EFA Project Space is pleased to present EFAbstract, curated by Bill Carroll, featuring nine member artists of the EFA Studio Program who work in abstract painting. Each of these artists approach abstraction differently, speaking in a clear and highly individual voice. From the minimalistic style of Clytie Alexander, to the stitched-together baroque works of Heather Bause Rubinstein, the exhibition spotlights the range of abstraction present in the work of contemporary painters, as well as that of the artists working in the Studio Program.

Rather than an abstraction derived from esoterics, the artists in EFAbstract are inspired by the world around them: nature, industrialism, poetry and our own perception forms the basis of this work. Dannielle Tegeder is influenced by mechanical drawings she observed growing up in a family of steamfitters, while Sally Egbert’s subdued lyricism comes from her sharp observations of nature. Marjorie Welish approaches her patterned geometries through a poetic lens, derived from her parallel writing practice. Katinka Mann’s abstract shapes make use of subtle geometries to blur the line between painting and sculpture. Suzan Frecon’s work focuses on the relationships between light, perception, and matter. The simple compositions of Suzanne Song’s paintings imply the spaces we encounter in our surrounding environment, reflecting grey floors and white walls ubiquitous to most interior spaces. Vicky Colombet’s work takes the abstract energy, topography, and sensibility of landscapes as a source of inspiration. The nine artists featured in EFAbstract reinvent, reinvigorate, and expand the definition of abstract art.

EFAbstract is presented in celebration of Bill Carroll's ten years as Director of the Studio Program for the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts. The EFA Studio Program provides subsidized studios to over 70 members and fosters a cooperative community. Members of the Studio Program must be professional artists with an established studio practice. The members represent over 30 countries and a wide range of visual media and artistic sensibilities. EFAbstract represents this plurality of practice, in line with Project Space’s mission to support the work of specific artist communities, while representing the first cross-program collaboration between EFA Project Space and the EFA Studio Program.

A new end_notes publication will be available with essays and reflections on the exhibition, to be released at the close of the exhibition in March.