LISA YUSKAVAGE
2017-06-12Widely associated with a re-emergence of the figurative in contemporary painting, Yuskavage has developed her own genre of portraiture in which lavish, erotic, angelic and at times grotesque characters are cast within fantastical landscapes or domestic spaces. Seamlessly blending contemporary cultural imagery and classical pictorial language, Yuskavage marshals color as a conduit for complex psychological constructs.
The exhibition includes several works that continue Yuskavage’s exploration of the dynamics of intertwined couples, while also furthering her interest in using color as a vehicle for ideational content. Begun in the 2000s with dual portraits of female figures, she has in recent years created a series of symbiotic depictions of a female and male couple. Their relationship appears determined by carefully selected color harmonies or contrasts—in some cases, one figure is cast in vibrant hues, while the other is in neutral tones. In works such as Ludlow Street (2017), the figures are connected to one another through pose, color, and light, and contrast with their stark and colorless environment.
Opposite – Lovers, 2016
Exhibition runs through to July 28th, 2017
David Zwirner
24 Grafton St
Mayfair
London W1S 4EZ
