In the Absence of Color

2 May — 13 Jun 2017 at Hollis Taggart in New York, United States

10 May 2017

In the Absence of Color. Courtesy of Hollis Taggart Galleries

In the Absence of Color. Courtesy of Hollis Taggart Galleries

But when I fell in love with black, it contained all color. It wasn’t a negation of color. It was an acceptance. Because black encompasses all colors. Black is the most aristocratic color of all. The only aristocratic color.

(Louise Nevelson)

Hollis Taggart Galleries presents an exhibition probing the depth and versatility of a restricted palette. Richard Pousette-Dart, a member of the New York School and mainstay of American abstraction, employed a black and white color-scheme to render the mythic coupling of Hero and Leander as bold, heroic figures. In contrast, Mark Tobey used black and white to evoke the lyrical brushwork of Japanese calligraphy, in the form of a serenely organic ink painting.

The simplicity of black and white unites works across media. Louise Nevelson’s wooden wall constructions of abstracted, lunar forms hang in conversation with Jack Tworkov’s mixed media collages and Jasper Johns’ meticulously rendered lithographs.

At first glance, a dichrome palette may be viewed as limiting. "In the Absence of Color" challenges this notion, presenting a selection of work by artists who pursue black and white and prove that the works are anything but.

Hollis Taggart

Hollis Taggart—formerly known as Hollis Taggart Galleries—presents significant works of American art, showcasing the trajectory of American art movements from the Hudson River School to American Modernism and Post-War and Contemporary eras. Its program is characterized by a deep commitment to scholarship and bringing to the fore the work of under-recognized artists. It has sponsored several catalogue raisonné projects, most recently for Surrealist artist Kay Sage, and has been instrumental in advancing knowledge of such compelling artists as Alfred Maurer, Arthur B. Carles, and more recently, Theodoros Stamos, Marjorie Strider, and Michael (Corinne) West. With 40 years of experience, Hollis Taggart is widely recognized by collectors and curators for its leadership, expertise, and openness, on both matters of art history and market trends and opportunities.

Gallery profile

Location

New York, United States

Founded in

1979

In the Absence of Color. Courtesy of Hollis Taggart Galleries

In the Absence of Color. Courtesy of Hollis Taggart Galleries

In the Absence of Color. Courtesy of Hollis Taggart Galleries

In the Absence of Color. Courtesy of Hollis Taggart Galleries
In the Absence of Color. Courtesy of Hollis Taggart Galleries
In the Absence of Color. Courtesy of Hollis Taggart Galleries

In the Absence of Color. Courtesy of Hollis Taggart Galleries
In the Absence of Color. Courtesy of Hollis Taggart Galleries
In the Absence of Color. Courtesy of Hollis Taggart Galleries

Subscribe

Get updates on the Meer