Gagosian presents Queue, an exhibition of new paintings by Spencer Sweeney.
Sweeney’s imagery is centred on the human figure, ranging from semiabstract reclining nudes to surreal, ambiguously gendered self-portraits. Conveying intense emotion through lively colour and deft handling of paint, his art maps the physical and psychological spaces occupied by the body.
In his paintings, Sweeney moves among art historical references, emulating the enigmatic tone and audacious palette of Surrealist and Russian Expressionist figures such as Alexej von Jawlensky.
In a series of new paintings made in his Manhattan studio over the past year, Sweeney turns his attention to the human face, enlarging the head beyond life-size. This body of work unites the artist’s psychological musings with images of contemporary urban life. Hung closely around the Davies Street gallery, the pictures capture the experience of encountering a diverse group of strangers waiting outside at a nightclub, bus stop, or clinic. Queue will be fully visible through the gallery’s large windows from 8am to 8pm daily, allowing Sweeney’s vibrant portraits to gaze back at viewers and passersby.
