The Easel

17th November 2020

Theaster Gates Blends Art and Activism in a Powerful New Show at Gagosian

Lucy Rees | Galerie | 12th October 2020

Gates has been called “the poster boy for socially engaged art.” Many reviews of his solo show thus hesitate about where to look – his art works or his dazzling social activism. His paintings, made with humble building materials, seem craft-like. Comments Gates, “who divides the highbrow from the commonplace”? An exhibition that “celebrates the handmade, the tactile, and the community is a welcome breath of fresh air.” A video on Gates’ art is here.

10th November 2020

“Jordan Casteel: Within Reach” at The New Museum, New York

Mario Naves | Too Much Art | 1st November 2020

Young artists sometimes get “cradle snatched” by critics and the market. Casteel, 31, is a case in point. In the six years since her graduation, she can boast multiple solo shows, “enviable” sales and attention from critics. Is this too much acclaim for a young artist? Some think her work, mostly portraits, is conservative. The reviewer wonders whether Casteel is prescient or just trendy but doesn’t show his hand. “Let’s see where [she] takes us”.

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