Margo Margolis

"Step" Abstraction Matisse Quality Chartreuse/Turquoise, Playful/Sophisticated

2022

This abstraction by NY based artist Margo Margolis has a very sophisticated/playful sensibility with brilliant, intense color (pink, bright green, dark green, red, yellow, turquoise, pale gray, black and white) - the significant attribute of the artist's flashe medium, a water based French paint. Consisting of multiple layers of underpainting and glazing, and the frequent contrasts between hard and soft edges, these paintings not only have occasional associations with Henri Matisse's palette and Alexander Calder's sculptural forms, but also share in these artists' complexities after initial relatively straightforward first takes. Fresh and intelligent exploration into the possibilities for abstraction are Margolis's focus, and these works achieve that rare quality of making abstraction feel new. Margo Margolis "Mapping the Day" 2022 Flashe on Canvas 40 x 32 x 1.25 Inches This painting is unframed and framing is not necessary as the sides are painted white. To achieve accuracy for color some of the detail photographs shown below cause the background to appear slightly too gray. It is currently on view in an exhibition of the artist's work in Wellesley, MA where it is featured in a group of works of varying sizes, small, medium, and large: 24 x 20 inches, 40 x 32 inches, 72 x 60 inches, and works on paper measuring 30 x 22 inches. Also available are a series of earlier small canvases measuring 14 x 11 inches each which also work well as groupings. Margolis’s continuing commitment to abstract painting dates back to the early 1970s when she began exhibiting with the Brooke Alexander Gallery in New York where she had several shows. In addition her work has been exhibited throughout the country at numerous galleries and institutions including The Pennsylvania Academy of Art, The Renaissance Society, The Munson-Williams Proctor Institute and Halls Walls, among others. In reviewing the artist’s 1993 exhibition in the Beth Urdang gallery for 'The Boston Globe' then chief art critic Nancy Stapen stated: “…eccentric, quasi-geometric forms and initial impression of simplicity belie this artist’s highly sophisticated grasp of paintings. These are multi- layered works concerned with the discipline’s core issues – transluscency and opacity, flatness and illusioinism, line and form, figure and ground, pattern and surface, structure and weightless pictorial space… these paintings may be analyzed up to a point. In the end, their process remains mysterious. Their appeal lies in their engagement with an inventive form language intrinsic to painting, as well as in their deft synthesis of quietude and quirkiness.” June 3, 1993 Current Chief Art Critic for 'The Boston Globe, ' Cate McQuaid, wrote of Margolis’ 2017 exhibition in the gallery: “Her marks grab at you as insistently as a toddler demanding attention. They’re like a language made purely of punctuation, rhythmic and emphatic, let out of the duty of modifying sentences, freed at last to express itself alone.” January 6, 2017 Works are included in numerous public collections including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, Chase Manhattan Bank, Amerata-Hess Corporation, General Mills, Best Products, IBM, Estee Lauder, Miami-Dade College, Chemical Bank, and Wellington Management. She is the recipient of many awards including 2 grants from The National Endowment for the Arts, a New York State Council on the Arts Grant, and Yaddo and MacDowell Residency Grants. Margolis received a BS degree from Skidmore College and an MFA from Indiana University. She lives and works in New York. The artist recently retired as Chairman of the Tyler School of Art's (Philadelphia) Department of Painting. Statement by Margo Margolis: "While text and image combine to tell the story, it is the drawing around the narrative, the space between text and image that I find compelling. In my work, it is the space between, on the periphery, in the margins that has become the foreground. It is the charged environment that has become the subject. Equally significant and transformative have been innovations in process that have evolved. Discrete marks are de-contextualized, reassembled and photocopied. They are further manipulated by exaggerations in scale, repetition and excessive layering. I have introduced 'printerly' processes (carbon tracking and stencils) that combine with marks that are hand-drawn, hand-painted. These are layered over and under transparent veils of paint. The incorporation of printing methods has been critical both formally and conceptually. These processes underline the fact that this is a system based on a 'ready-made' language. They create an identity distinctly different from action painting, gestural painting or any notion that the artists' stroke is assumed to reveal his/her psyche. These are distanced marks and frozen gestures. In combination with what is handmade, they reveal an alternate translation. Importantly, these processes, in allowing direct reproduction point to the semantic mutability of the language. However, most important is the process of building, excessive layering, and the continual dissolution and re-materialization of form. The paintings have a physicality and material presence that affirms the medium and is in contrast to their graphic impact." MARGO MARGOLIS EDUCATION B.S. Degree 1970, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York MFA Degree 1972, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2022 Beth Urdang Gallery, Wellesley, Massachusetts 2019 Beth Urdang Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts 2016 Beth Urdang Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts 2007 Beth Urdang Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts 2001 Beth Urdang Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts 1997 Esso Gallery, New York, New York 1993 Beth Urdang Gallery, Boston, Mass. 1991 Beth Urdang Gallery, Chicago, IL. 1989 Beth Urdang Gallery, Boston, Mass 1987 Richard Green Gallery, New York 1980 Brooke Alexander Gallery, New York 1979 University of Southern Florida, Tampa, Florida 1979 Miami-Dade College, Miami, Florida 1978 Brooke Alexander Gallery, New York 1977 Connecticut College, New London, Ct. 1977 Brooke Alexander Gallery, New York SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2016 Fabulous You, Tiger Stikes Asteroid, Brooklyn, New York 2011 Twin, Twin, Pierogi Gallery, Brooklyn, New York 2010 Spring Editions, Pelavin Editions, New York 2010 Group Exhibition, Beth Urdang Gallery, Wellesley, Massachusetts 2004 Analog Click-Click, Temple Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa. 2002 Snapshots, Arcadia University Gallery, Glenside, PA, Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, CT 1999 Tenth Anniversary Exhibition, Beth Urdang Gallery, Boston, MA 1998 Accrochage in the Gallery, Esso Gallery, New York 1998 Brad Kalhammer, Nicholas Rule, Margo Margolis, Solo Voices, North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks, ND 1998 Art Exchange Show, New York 1998 Works on Paper, Galeria Martano, Turin, Italy 1998 Paintings and Monoprints, Cheryl Pelavin Gallery, New York 1997 Esso Gallery in Torino, Villa Buttino, Torino, Italy 1997 Art Exchange Show, New York 1996 Objects by Some Artists and Architects, Beth Urdang Gallery, Boston, MA 1996 The Art Exchange Show, New York 1994 Abstract Painting, Carolyn Roy Gallery, New York 1995 Wayne C. Brown DePonton d”Amecourt Collection, Colby College, Waterville, ME 1994 Contemporary Prints, Quartet Gallery, New York 1992 Mentors, Vox Populi Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1991 Presenze, Artisti Stranieri in Italia Oggi, Rocca Paolina, Perugia, Italy 1990 Contemporary Painting, Langman Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa. 1989 Very Special Arts Benefit, Christies, New York 1989 Ground Work, Valencia College, Valencia, FL 1989 Group Show, Shea Beker Gallery, New York 1989 Drawings, Lorence Monk Gallery, New York 1989 Monoprints, University of Maine, Orono M 1989 Inadmissible Evidence, SUNY Purchase, New York 1988 Group Show, Bernard Jacobsen Gallery, New York 1986 Mutual Respect, Vanguard Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1984 Nature As Image, OIA, New York 1983 Works on Paper, Bucknell University, A 1982 Group Show, Brooke Alexander Gallery, New York 1981 Abstract Painting, Womens Caucus of the CAA, New York 1981 Ten Years Later, Skdmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York 1981 Exchanges III, Louis Abrons Center, New York 1981 Group Show, Brooke Alexander Gallery, New York 1981 Sign and Symbol, Jeffrey Fuller Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1981 Five Abstract Painters, Brooke Alexander Gallery, New York 1981 Group Show, Marion Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1980 New York, New, Work,”Delahunty Gallery, Dallas, Texas 1979 Group Show, Brooke Alexander Gallery, New York 1978 Diamond, Margolis, and Ripps, Brooke Alexander Gallery, New York 1978 Contemporary Drawings, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA 1978 Drawings, Pratt Graphics Center, New York 1978 Thick Paint, Curated by Carter Ratcliffe, Renaissance Society, University Of Chicago, Chicago, IL 1978 New Editions, Brooke Alexander Gallery, New York 1978 Three New York Painters,” Alice Simsar Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI 1978 Six Contemporary Painters,”curated by Marcia Tucker, Kirkland College Clinton York 1977 Works on Paper, Alice Simsar Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI 1977 Critics Choice,” Joe and Emily Lowe Gallery, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, Munson-Williams Proctor Institute, Utica, New York 1977 New Abstract Objects,” Halls Walls, Buffalo, New York 1977 Diamond, Jacquette, Margolis and Ripps-New Work, Brooke Alexander Gallery, New York 1977 Painting ’75,’76,’77, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York; American Federation for the Arts, Miami, FL; Contemporary Art Center, Cincinnati, O 1977 Works on Paper, Vick, Klaus, and Rosen Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 1976 Group Exhibition, Towson State College, Towson, MD 1976 “Contemporary Approaches to Painting,” University Museum, University of California at Santa Barbara 1976 “Four Young Artists,” Bykert Gallery, New York 1976 Invitational, OK Harris Gallery, New York PUBLIC COLLECTIONS Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA Brooklyn Museum, New York IBM Corporation, New York Fidelity Investments, Boston, MA Prudential, New York Rosenthal and Rosenthal, New York Chase Manhattan Bank Collection, New York Ivan Chermayeff, New York Lehman Brothers, New York Miami-Dade College, Miami, FL Amerada-Hess Corporation, New York American Can Company, Greenwich, CT Estee Lauder Corporation, New York General Mills, Minneapolis, MN Freed, Frank, Shriver, New York Chemical Bank, New York Delahunty Gallery, Dallas, TX Best Products, Richmond, VA Skadden, Arps, New York Stephen Paine, Boston, MA Davis, Polk, Wardwell, New York Roger Sonnabend, Boston, MA Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, PA Zimmerli Archives, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ GRANTS AND AWARDS Temple University Study leave, 1980, 1987,1994, 2002 Visual Arts Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts, 1987 Visual Arts Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts, 1980 New York State Council for the Arts, 1977 Yaddo Residency Grant, 1976 MacDowell Residency Grant, 1976 Indiana University Fellowship, 1970 CATALOGUES Painting ’75,’76,’77 Critic’s Choice Contemporary Drawing, Philadelphia Thick Paint Margo Margolis, Miami Dade College Exchange III Nature as Image Ground Work Presenze Chemical Bank: An Art Collection in Perspective Margo Margolis, Esso Gallery BIBLIOGRAPHY Richard Lorber, Arts Magazine, September 1976 Art Week, October 23, 1976 Henry J. Seldis, Los Angles Times David Rush, "Paintings with a Sculptural Character," Art Week, October 30, 1976 Allen Ellensweig, Arts Magazine, April 1977 Richard Brugin, New York Arts Journal, September 1977 Mary Delahoyd, "Painting '75, '76, '77" (catalogue essay) 1977 Hayden Herrera, "Critics' Choice," Joe and Emily Lowe Art Gallery, Syracuse, New York and Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, New York (catalogue essay) 1977 John Russell, New York Times, June 1978 Carter Ratcliffe, "Thick Paint" University of Chicago, IL (catalogue essay) 1978 Ann Percy, "Contemporary Drawings, Philadelphia," Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (catalogue essay) 1978 Alexandra Anderson, Village Voice, March 26, 1979 Peter Frank, "In One Medium, Out the Other," Village Voice, April 9, 1979 Thomas Lawson, Art in America, October 1979 Karen Valdes, Margo Margolis, Miami-Dade Community College, (catalogue essay) 1979 Print Collector's Newsletter, Spring 1979 Lee Edwards...

This abstraction by NY based artist Margo Margolis has a very sophisticated/playful sensibility with brilliant, intense color (yellow, red, orange, pink, blue, turquoise, black and white) which is the significant attribute of the artist's flashe medium, a water based French paint. Consisting of multiple layers of underpainting and glazing, and contrasts between hard and soft edges, these paintings not only have associations with Henri Matisse's palette and Alexander Calder's sculptural forms, but also share in these artists' complexities after relatively straightforward initial first takes. Fresh and intelligent exploration into the possibilities for abstraction are Margolis's focus, and her paintings achieve that rare quality of making abstraction feel new. Margo Margolis "Studio" 2022 Flashe on Canvas 24 x 20 x 1.25 Inches This painting is unframed and framing is not necessary as the sides are painted white. It is currently on view in an exhibition of the artist's work in Wellesley, MA where it is featured in a group of works of varying sizes, small, medium, and large: 24 x 20 inches, 40 x 32 inches, 72 x 60 inches, and works on paper measuring 30 x 22 inches. Also available are a series of earlier small canvases measuring 14 x 11 inches each which also work well as groupings. Margolis’s continuing commitment to abstract painting dates back to the early 1970s when she began exhibiting with the Brooke Alexander Gallery in New York where she had several shows. In addition her work has been exhibited throughout the country at numerous galleries and institutions including The Pennsylvania Academy of Art, The Renaissance Society, The Munson-Williams Proctor Institute and Halls Walls, among others. In reviewing the artist’s 1993 exhibition in the Beth Urdang...

Elfi Schuselka (Austrian, b. 1940), Abstract Composition in Teal, Oil on Canvas, signed and marked "No War Again" to verso, unstretched, unframed. 21.5" H x 23.5" W. Provenance: From...