Artist Statement.
There’s something about elements in nature that are always surprisingly abstract to me. I’m interested in shapes in nature as they relate to abstraction in painting. In my work I investigate the curious, rich area of visual potential these shapes exist in. I question how we interpret what we see in terms of abstraction whether it is by chance or intentionally looking at a work of art.
I collect distinctly different representations of abstraction of nature: prints, books, photographs and more. I make drawings and collages from these source materials. They become cut and paste blueprints from which I build my surface layers on the picture plane.
Concealing and revealing in my work is an important form of visual play. I play with the back and forth between what is print, what is paint and what is just negative space. Collage is a form of sampling but for me it’s what’s in between those samples, which is just as exciting. My selection process of shapes, images and paint is based in poetic responses on how I respond to formal elements – it is in that act that I find profound meaning.
Aaron Wexler
abwexler(at)mac.com
www.aaronwexler.com
347-262-9015
M.F.A. Painting and Drawing.
The School of The Art Institute of Chicago.
1996
B.F.A. Painting and Drawing.
Tyler School of Art. Phila, PA.
Invisible Ghost
Josee Bienvenu Gallery. NY, NY.
2008.
Use Your Indoor Voice
One In The Other Gallery. London, UK.
2006.
Mind Over Matter
Josee Bienvenu Gallery. NY, NY.
Remix. Selections from International Collage Center.
Samek Art Gallery, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA.
2011.
Permanent Collection.
Regina Rex at NurtureArt, New York, NY.
2010.
Stand Here and Listen
The James Hotel. NY, NY.
Permanent exhibition/acquisition.
2009.
Abstract America
Saatchi Gallery. London, UK.
2008.
1968/2008 The Culture of Collage
Pavel Zoubok Gallery. NY,NY.
2007.
Twilight Musings
One In The Other Gallery. London, UK.
2006.
The New Collage
Pavel Zoubok Gallery. NY, NY.
2006.
181st. Annual Invitational Exhibition
of Contemporary Art.
The National Academy Museum. NY, NY.
2005.
No Apology For Breathing. Group Show.
Jack The Pelican Presents. Brooklyn, NY.
2004.
FreeForm. Group Show. Fordam University.
Center Gallery at Lincoln Center. New York, NY.
2004.
Puzzle Palace. Group Show. Josee Bienvenu Gallery.
New York, NY.
2004.
Aaron Wexler & Colin Keefe. PS122 Gallery. New York, NY. Curated by: Anne Ellegood.
2004.
Some Exhaust
Lehmann Maupin. New York, NY.
2004.
The Day After I Destroyed The Women I Wished I Had Not Destroyed The Women.
5BE, Oliver Kamm Gallery. New York, NY.
2003.
Team Work
Vox Populi Gallery. Philadelphia, PA.
2003.
Weight as Real
The Queens Council on The Arts. L.I.C., NY.
2003.
The Accords
Weather Records Project Space. Brooklyn, NY
2002.
Gecenkondu. Group Show. Apexart. New York, NY.
2002.
Grotto. Jessica Murray Projects. Brooklyn, NY.
2001.
FFWD Miami. Contemporary Art Fair.
Curated room by Anne Ellegood.
2001.
The Willow House
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. Chicago, IL.
2000.
Minimal Provocations
Betty Rymer Gallery. Chicago, IL.
2000.
Flat Files
Bellwether Gallery. Brooklyn, NY.
2000.
OPEN
L.F.L. Gallery. New York, NY.
1999.
Post MFA
Peter Miller Gallery. Chicago, IL.
Wallpaper Magazine. December issue. Pg. 90
Interior Design Magazine. November issue. Pg. 158
2008.
Abstract America, The Saatchi Gallery, Rizzoli.
Coxhead, Gabriel, One in The Other, Time Out London, March 14.
2006.
The 181st Annual Invitational Exhibition, National Academy Museum, NY, John Schmidt, GBE Plus.
The New Collage, Pavel Zoubok Gallery, X-ing Design.
2005.
Cotter, Holland, Art in Review: No Apology For Breathing, New York Times, August 12.
2004.
Cotter Holland, Art in Review: The Day After I Destroyed The Women I wished I Had Not, New York Times, August 6.
Frame Magazine #38, The Three Second Rule, May/June.
Julius Hallgarte Prize, National Academy
2005.
Atlantic Center for The Arts
2004.
Vermont Studio Center
2001.
Curatorial Grant, Artists Space, NY.
Parsons/New School University, NY.
Pratt Institute, NY.
The National Academy Museum, NY.
There’s something about elements in nature that are always surprisingly abstract to me. I’m interested in shapes in nature as they relate to abstraction in painting. In my work I investigate the curious, rich area of visual potential these shapes exist in. I question how we interpret what we see in terms of abstraction whether it is by chance or intentionally looking at a work of art.
I collect distinctly different representations of abstraction of nature: prints, books, photographs and more. I make drawings and collages from these source materials. They become cut and paste blueprints from which I build my surface layers on the picture plane.
Concealing and revealing in my work is an important form of visual play. I play with the back and forth between what is print, what is paint and what is just negative space. Collage is a form of sampling but for me it’s what’s in between those samples, which is just as exciting. My selection process of shapes, images and paint is based in poetic responses on how I respond to formal elements – it is in that act that I find profound meaning.
Aaron Wexler
abwexler(at)mac.com
www.aaronwexler.com
347-262-9015
Education
1999M.F.A. Painting and Drawing.
The School of The Art Institute of Chicago.
1996
B.F.A. Painting and Drawing.
Tyler School of Art. Phila, PA.
Solo Exhibitions
2009.Invisible Ghost
Josee Bienvenu Gallery. NY, NY.
2008.
Use Your Indoor Voice
One In The Other Gallery. London, UK.
2006.
Mind Over Matter
Josee Bienvenu Gallery. NY, NY.
Group Exhibitions
2011.Remix. Selections from International Collage Center.
Samek Art Gallery, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA.
2011.
Permanent Collection.
Regina Rex at NurtureArt, New York, NY.
2010.
Stand Here and Listen
The James Hotel. NY, NY.
Permanent exhibition/acquisition.
2009.
Abstract America
Saatchi Gallery. London, UK.
2008.
1968/2008 The Culture of Collage
Pavel Zoubok Gallery. NY,NY.
2007.
Twilight Musings
One In The Other Gallery. London, UK.
2006.
The New Collage
Pavel Zoubok Gallery. NY, NY.
2006.
181st. Annual Invitational Exhibition
of Contemporary Art.
The National Academy Museum. NY, NY.
2005.
No Apology For Breathing. Group Show.
Jack The Pelican Presents. Brooklyn, NY.
2004.
FreeForm. Group Show. Fordam University.
Center Gallery at Lincoln Center. New York, NY.
2004.
Puzzle Palace. Group Show. Josee Bienvenu Gallery.
New York, NY.
2004.
Aaron Wexler & Colin Keefe. PS122 Gallery. New York, NY. Curated by: Anne Ellegood.
2004.
Some Exhaust
Lehmann Maupin. New York, NY.
2004.
The Day After I Destroyed The Women I Wished I Had Not Destroyed The Women.
5BE, Oliver Kamm Gallery. New York, NY.
2003.
Team Work
Vox Populi Gallery. Philadelphia, PA.
2003.
Weight as Real
The Queens Council on The Arts. L.I.C., NY.
2003.
The Accords
Weather Records Project Space. Brooklyn, NY
2002.
Gecenkondu. Group Show. Apexart. New York, NY.
2002.
Grotto. Jessica Murray Projects. Brooklyn, NY.
2001.
FFWD Miami. Contemporary Art Fair.
Curated room by Anne Ellegood.
2001.
The Willow House
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. Chicago, IL.
2000.
Minimal Provocations
Betty Rymer Gallery. Chicago, IL.
2000.
Flat Files
Bellwether Gallery. Brooklyn, NY.
2000.
OPEN
L.F.L. Gallery. New York, NY.
1999.
Post MFA
Peter Miller Gallery. Chicago, IL.
Selected Bibliography
2010.Wallpaper Magazine. December issue. Pg. 90
Interior Design Magazine. November issue. Pg. 158
2008.
Abstract America, The Saatchi Gallery, Rizzoli.
Coxhead, Gabriel, One in The Other, Time Out London, March 14.
2006.
The 181st Annual Invitational Exhibition, National Academy Museum, NY, John Schmidt, GBE Plus.
The New Collage, Pavel Zoubok Gallery, X-ing Design.
2005.
Cotter, Holland, Art in Review: No Apology For Breathing, New York Times, August 12.
2004.
Cotter Holland, Art in Review: The Day After I Destroyed The Women I wished I Had Not, New York Times, August 6.
Frame Magazine #38, The Three Second Rule, May/June.
Grants, Awards, Residencies
2006.Julius Hallgarte Prize, National Academy
2005.
Atlantic Center for The Arts
2004.
Vermont Studio Center
2001.
Curatorial Grant, Artists Space, NY.
Lectures, Panel Discussions and Visiting Artist
The Drawing Center, NY.Parsons/New School University, NY.
Pratt Institute, NY.
The National Academy Museum, NY.