American contemporary artist Jonas Wood has set the art world alight with his latest exhibition at the Gagosian in Beverly Hills, attracting drawn attention from both critics and the public alike.
Titled ‘Holds Court’, the much-anticipated exhibition offers a dynamic exploration of Wοod’s deeply intimate relationship with visual culture and playing sports. The show, running until October 19, provides a continuation of the artist’s celebrated journey, as he continues to address key themes and motifs that have permeated his art for years.
Wood, known for his vibrant, large-scale canvases that draw from a range of art historical and pop cultural sources, takes inspiration from a vast repository that spans European modernism to American vernacular. His work frequently nods to the likes of Henri Matisse, Stuart Davis, and Alex Katz.
His newest exhibition is highly personal, as it pays tribute to his deep-rooted passion for sports, particularly basketball. The mix of sports paraphernalia, iconic competitors and domestic symbols, such as household corners and potted plants, are rendered in a dizzying display of pattern, form, and color in this unique show.
Online responses to the exhibition have been overwhelmingly positive. On Instagram, visitors share snapshots of their favorite works with accompanying appreciative comments. The bold and striking images have garnered thousands of likes and comments from spectators worldwide. Critics, too, have praised Wood’s persistent ability to blend the borders of modernism, pop art, and abstraction.
Art critic Oliver Basciano, writing for ArtReview, describes Wood’s work as “critical in its approach to modern life… often poignant, sometimes funny, and always deeply human.” Hyperallergic’s Elisa Wouk Almino similarly accorded high praise to Wood, admiring his “adventurous use of color and ability to inject the familiar with an enchanting ambiguity.”
The exhibit features over twenty new paintings, including Wood’s staple still lifes, interiors, and landscapes, with the addition of new portraiture work, like ‘Lake Bell’ – a compelling heart-shaped monochromatic painting of actress Lake Bell, who is Wood’s sister-in-law.
Among other works, an arresting feature of the exhibit is the monumental painting ‘Basketball Court with 4 Balls’, which spans over 21 feet in length. Wood introduces sports iconography in new dimensions, capturing the viewer’s attention with striking geometry, bold lines, and energetic palette.
Another standout piece is ‘Wilt and the Beanstalk’, a new series of drawings that pay tribute to basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain. Wood mixes fact and mythology in these drawings, reimagining Chamberlain’s feats as fantastical and larger than life ― an interesting and innovative exploration of sports and fascination for viewers.
Another memorable work is the ‘Clippings Diptych’, a collection of newspaper cut-outs of basketball players, reflecting Wood’s interest in elevations, a genre of drawing that records each angle of an object separately on the same plane.
Gagosian Beverly Hills is a perfect backdrop for Wood’s exhibition, presenting an engaging dialogue between the artworks and the gallery’s white, minimalist spaces. Each piece gets ample space to breathe and engage with visitors, further enhancing the visual experience.
‘Holds Court’ is a testament to Jonas Wood’s innovative craftsmanship. The artist continues to blur lines between reality and imagination, personal and universal, art history and contemporary culture. His work remains as inviting and captivating as ever, a vivid testament to his place in the contemporary art world.
The exhibition, free to visit, will be open until October 19, providing an opportunity for art fans and critics alike to witness Wood’s genius firsthand. The Gagosian Beverly Hills welcomes visitors with precautions in place to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience in these pandemic times.
Original Source: https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/painting/jonas-wood-holds-court-gagosian-beverly-hills/
