The Lexington Art League (LAL) is set to launch into the new year with the exploration of a foundational and timeless subject — the figure — in the upcoming exhibition Artist: Body, presented by QX.net. For this exhibition LAL hired guest curator Julien Robson, former curator of Contemporary Art at The Speed Museum in Louisville. Robson, a native Brit who lives between Vienna and Louisville, has explored numerous private collections and galleries from London to Cincinnati to curate this exhibition, serving as a platform for Kentucky artists to be seen in an international framework.
Artist: Body takes the concept of a figure show and translates it through the lens of the self-portrait in contemporary art. A compelling survey of the artists’ image of themselves, Robson states, “Throughout the ages, images of the human body have been used by artists, often to explore allegory, beauty and sexuality. Time has witnessed many shifts in the way the body is portrayed and in recent decades, influenced by contemporary thinking and the availability of different visual technologies, artists have increasingly employed themselves as both the subject and object of their works.”
Much of the work in Artist: Body portrays the artists’s sense of ownership of her or his body and, most importantly, how it is represented. While the themes explored within the exhibition are vast and multi-layered, one prominent connecting fiber is the vulnerability each artist shares as they expose viewers - and in many cases showcase - their most intimate selves in working with their own bodies. “In this context the image of the artists’ body is open and vulnerable, subject to self analysis and intimate dissection, while at the same time resisting a comprehensive interpretation.” Robson further added.
Among others, Artist: Body includes works by Louis Zoellar Bickett, John Coplans, Julius Deutschbauer, Bryce Hudson, Thaniel Ion Lee, Gabriel Martinez, Cynthia Norton, Cindy Sherman, Xaviera Simmons, Kiki Smith, Annie Sprinkle, Hannah Wilke, and Sam Taylor Wood.
Artist: Body takes the concept of a figure show and translates it through the lens of the self-portrait in contemporary art. A compelling survey of the artists’ image of themselves, Robson states, “Throughout the ages, images of the human body have been used by artists, often to explore allegory, beauty and sexuality. Time has witnessed many shifts in the way the body is portrayed and in recent decades, influenced by contemporary thinking and the availability of different visual technologies, artists have increasingly employed themselves as both the subject and object of their works.”
Much of the work in Artist: Body portrays the artists’s sense of ownership of her or his body and, most importantly, how it is represented. While the themes explored within the exhibition are vast and multi-layered, one prominent connecting fiber is the vulnerability each artist shares as they expose viewers - and in many cases showcase - their most intimate selves in working with their own bodies. “In this context the image of the artists’ body is open and vulnerable, subject to self analysis and intimate dissection, while at the same time resisting a comprehensive interpretation.” Robson further added.
Among others, Artist: Body includes works by Louis Zoellar Bickett, John Coplans, Julius Deutschbauer, Bryce Hudson, Thaniel Ion Lee, Gabriel Martinez, Cynthia Norton, Cindy Sherman, Xaviera Simmons, Kiki Smith, Annie Sprinkle, Hannah Wilke, and Sam Taylor Wood.
Fourth Friday: A Figure Study
January 29, 6-9pm, Loudoun House
This world-class exhibition will launch with a uniquely LAL Fourth Friday event entitled Fourth Friday: A Figure Study on January 22nd from 6-9pm at the Loudoun House. Fourth Friday: A Figure Study has been designed to include an experiential journey of the timeless study of the figure through the spacious, historic galleries of the Loudoun House. Interactive figure drawing, live painting demonstration, and contemporary takes on the self portrait are exciting highlights of this unparalleled Fourth Friday event.
While the larger collection of works showcased in Artist: Body explore the contemporary ‘figure’ through a compelling survey of each artists’ images of themselves, Fourth Friday: A Figure Study will offer audiences the opportunity to analyze their own image while observing others doing the same. With the drawing and painting areas staged by Stuart Hurt of House, the event will feature participatory drawing classes with live models led by Martin Beck and an evening-long painting demonstration by Sheldon Tapley, Professor of Art at Centre College. Of course, no contemporary examination of self-portraiture would be complete without a selfie room. While contemporary self-portraiture has come to be defined by the camera phone self-portrait, Fourth Friday goers will also be treated to a mirrored room with cardstock and sketch pencils to investigate themselves as the subject and object of their work in a more classical form.
This world-class exhibition will launch with a uniquely LAL Fourth Friday event entitled Fourth Friday: A Figure Study on January 22nd from 6-9pm at the Loudoun House. Fourth Friday: A Figure Study has been designed to include an experiential journey of the timeless study of the figure through the spacious, historic galleries of the Loudoun House. Interactive figure drawing, live painting demonstration, and contemporary takes on the self portrait are exciting highlights of this unparalleled Fourth Friday event.
While the larger collection of works showcased in Artist: Body explore the contemporary ‘figure’ through a compelling survey of each artists’ images of themselves, Fourth Friday: A Figure Study will offer audiences the opportunity to analyze their own image while observing others doing the same. With the drawing and painting areas staged by Stuart Hurt of House, the event will feature participatory drawing classes with live models led by Martin Beck and an evening-long painting demonstration by Sheldon Tapley, Professor of Art at Centre College. Of course, no contemporary examination of self-portraiture would be complete without a selfie room. While contemporary self-portraiture has come to be defined by the camera phone self-portrait, Fourth Friday goers will also be treated to a mirrored room with cardstock and sketch pencils to investigate themselves as the subject and object of their work in a more classical form.
Artist: Body Preview Party
February 19, 6-10pm, Loudoun House.
DJ LeeRoy will set this mood for this exclusive, cocktail-attire evening. LAL is proud to spotlight Bella Notte as the Official Catering Sponsor of the Opening Preview Party, featuring Santé Cellars and West Sixth Brewery.
Tickets available at $40 per member/$75 per member couple and $55 non-member/$100 non-member couple.
Preview Party Lead Sponsor: UnderMain
Preview Party Host Sponsors: Carl Meyers, Enderle, Besten, Dieruf, DelCotto Law Group, Fiona Doherty, Marnie Houlubek, House, Santé Cellars, South Hill Gallery, Ltd., The Salon at Wellington Arms, West Sixth Brewery, Felix & Oliver Wright
DJ LeeRoy will set this mood for this exclusive, cocktail-attire evening. LAL is proud to spotlight Bella Notte as the Official Catering Sponsor of the Opening Preview Party, featuring Santé Cellars and West Sixth Brewery.
Tickets available at $40 per member/$75 per member couple and $55 non-member/$100 non-member couple.
Preview Party Lead Sponsor: UnderMain
Preview Party Host Sponsors: Carl Meyers, Enderle, Besten, Dieruf, DelCotto Law Group, Fiona Doherty, Marnie Houlubek, House, Santé Cellars, South Hill Gallery, Ltd., The Salon at Wellington Arms, West Sixth Brewery, Felix & Oliver Wright
ARTIST: BODY Event Schedule |
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Artist Potluck, January 28, 6-8pm, Loudoun House
Fourth Friday: A Figure Study [a warm up event for Artist: Body], January 29, 6-9pm, Loudoun House Opening Preview Party, February 19, 6-10pm, Loudoun House Fourth Friday Artist: Body Opening, February 26, 6-9pm, Loudoun House Artist: Body Yoga with Lululemon, March 5, Loudoun House Drawing Class, March 19, Loudoun House Fourth Friday: Curator Conversation, March 25, 6-9pm, Loudoun House Gallery Hours February 27 - March 27 Tuesday - Thursday 10am-4pm Friday 10am-8pm Saturday & Sunday 1pm-4pm |
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A Figure Study Gallery
A Figure Study included works by Sheldon Tapley, Martin Beck, Lennon Michalski, Don Ament, Helene Steene and Jenni Phillips.
Artist: Body Gallery
Artist: Body Artists
Louis Zoeller Bickett Chris Radtke
Mark Boyle Arnulf Rainer
Carrie Marie Burr Carolee Schneemann
John Coplans Penelope Slinger
Julius Deutschbauer Xaviera Simmons
Valie Export Kiki Smith
Bryce Hudson Shinique Smith
Thaniel Ion Lee Annie Sprinkle
Leslie Lyons Mare Vaccaro
Gabriel Martinez Sam Taylor-Wood
Anette Messager Hannah Wilke
Cynthia Norton Martha Wilson
Rene Pena Francesca Woodman
Friederike Petzold
Mark Boyle Arnulf Rainer
Carrie Marie Burr Carolee Schneemann
John Coplans Penelope Slinger
Julius Deutschbauer Xaviera Simmons
Valie Export Kiki Smith
Bryce Hudson Shinique Smith
Thaniel Ion Lee Annie Sprinkle
Leslie Lyons Mare Vaccaro
Gabriel Martinez Sam Taylor-Wood
Anette Messager Hannah Wilke
Cynthia Norton Martha Wilson
Rene Pena Francesca Woodman
Friederike Petzold
All Lexington Art League programs are made possible through the generous support of LexArts.
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The Kentucky Arts Council, a state arts agency, provides operating support to the Lexington Art League with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by Lexington Parks & Recreation.
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