Peter Fox

Two Step

2018

"Verdant Shield" is an apt titled for this green toned abstract painting by Debra Drexler. Blues and turquoise create vertical fields of color atop an atmospheric background of pinks and light blue to create an immersive dimensional depth. Debra Drexler maintains studios in both New York and Oahu, and her work is informed by her unique bi-coastal experience. In her luminous, large-scale abstract paintings, she brings the transcendent experience of the Hawaiian landscape to a New York audience. Through her New York based studio and curatorial practices, she is also deeply engaged in critical conversation surrounding new abstraction. She states “Abstraction takes us to a state of timelessness that is primal in its humanity, disconnecting us momentarily from the mediated “now” of our electronic devices, and connecting us to a “now” that gives us a glimpse of the infinite. While our insistent digital projections can take us away from both our animal and spiritual nature, abstract painting reminds us again of what it means to be human. The corporality of the paint mirrors the flesh of the body and transports us into the timeless.” Debra Drexler's paintings are informed both by participating in the contemporary resurgence of abstraction coming out of New York, and by living in the Post Colonial Pacific for close to three decades. In the 21st century, much of our experience is mediated through the screens of our devices. In contrast, the making and viewing of paintings remains a direct, engaging experience in Drexler's paintings. She aims to take us to a state of timelessness that is primal in its humanity, disconnecting us momentarily from the mediated “now” of our electronic devices, and connecting us to a “now” that gives us a glimpse of the infinite. As a colorist, Debra Drexler provokes unexpected color relationships and creates spatial contradictions that come from those interactions. Some of her color choices reference the post digital experience with its highly saturated synthetic color. The luminosity and saturation also mirror the unique quality of light and tropical color interactions in Hawai’i, where Drexler also lives. Her work is driven by an athletic painting...

A violet impasto stroke of color is positioned next to a raspberry violet form in this contemporary abstract painting by the New York/ Hawaiian artist, Debra Drexler. The shapes create a layers of cut-out colors with cool blues, peach orange and yellows. Debra Drexler maintains studios in both New York and Oahu, and her work is informed by her unique bi-coastal experience. In her luminous, large-scale abstract paintings, she brings the transcendent experience of the Hawaiian landscape to a New York audience. Through her New York based studio and curatorial practices, she is also deeply engaged in critical conversation surrounding new abstraction. She states “Abstraction takes us to a state of timelessness that is primal in its humanity, disconnecting us momentarily from the mediated “now” of our electronic devices, and connecting us to a “now” that gives us a glimpse of the infinite. While our insistent digital projections can take us away from both our animal and spiritual nature, abstract painting reminds us again of what it means to be human. The corporality of the paint mirrors the flesh of the body and transports us into the timeless.” Debra Drexler's paintings are informed both by participating in the contemporary resurgence of abstraction coming out of New York, and by living in the Post Colonial Pacific for close to three decades. In the 21st century, much of our experience is mediated through the screens of our devices. In contrast, the making and viewing of paintings remains a direct, engaging experience in Drexler's paintings. She aims to take us to a state of timelessness that is primal in its humanity, disconnecting us momentarily from the mediated “now” of our electronic devices, and connecting us to a “now” that gives us a glimpse of the infinite. As a colorist, Debra Drexler provokes unexpected color relationships and creates spatial contradictions that come from those interactions. Some of her color choices reference the post digital experience with its highly saturated synthetic color. The luminosity and saturation also mirror the unique quality of light and tropical color interactions in Hawai’i, where Drexler also lives. Her work is driven by an athletic painting...

72"x48" acrylic and oil on canvas, signed on reverse by the artist. This is a contemporary abstract painting by the New York/ Hawaiian artist, Debra Drexler. Violet and blue hues are contrasted with neon orange and deep red orange forms. A circular form of violet attracts a central focus in the fields light orange and nearly pastel blue undertones in this stunning vibrant painting by the artist Debra Drexler's paintings are informed both by participating in the contemporary resurgence of abstraction coming out of New York, and by living in the Post Colonial Pacific for close to three decades. In the 21st century, much of our experience is mediated through the screens of our devices. In contrast, the making and viewing of paintings remains a direct, engaging experience in Drexler's paintings. She aims to take us to a state of timelessness that is primal in its humanity, disconnecting us momentarily from the mediated “now” of our electronic devices, and connecting us to a “now” that gives us a glimpse of the infinite. As a colorist, Debra Drexler provokes unexpected color relationships and creates spatial contradictions that come from those interactions. Some of her color choices reference the post digital experience with its highly saturated synthetic color. The luminosity and saturation also mirror the unique quality of light and tropical color interactions in Hawai’i, where Drexler also lives. Her work is driven by an athletic painting...

84"x60" oil and acrylic on canvas, signed on reverse by the artist. This is a contemporary abstract painting by the New York/ Hawaiian artist, Debra Drexler. Tangerine and pale ora...

This is a contemporary abstract painting by the New York/ Hawaiian artist, Debra Drexler. Magenta and blue forms central to the painting are surrounded by rose pink, mauve, lavender and turquoise blue rise over a field of blue. You can see the influence of tropical colors in this canvas and a wistful yearning for the beach and the sea. Debra Drexler is an American painter, installation artist, curator and professor. Her work is informed both by participating in the contemporary resurgence of abstraction coming out of New York, and by living in the Post Colonial Pacific since 1992. She has participated in over thirty solo and over 100 group exhibitions in national and international venues including Front Room Gallery, Exit Art, The Drawing Center, White Box-The Annex, Art Finance Partners, Van Der Plas Gallery, Sideshow Gallery, and Denise Bibro Gallery in New York, as well The Honolulu Museum of Art and Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Debra Drexler is a Professor at the University of Hawaii, where she is Chair of the Drawing and Painting Area. She maintains studios in Brooklyn, NY and on the island of Oahu in Hawai’i. Debra Drexler's most recent work is highly experimental large-scale abstract painting. In a recent review of a two-person exhibition (Whitehot Magazine,2017) Drexler's work as clearly referencing the long tradition of American abstraction and the established legacy of the New York School. The reviewer, Jonathan Goodman, described the work as a “new non-objectivity” that comes out of the current moment. He states that Drexler's painting “quite accurately describes the spirit of abstract art today, in which painting is struggling to break free of the constraints of time." Debra Drexler frequently uses hot pink, a color with heavily gendered associations. Her hot pink brushstrokes...

This is a large scale, contemporary abstract painting by the New York/ Hawaiian artist, Debra Drexler. Vertical elongated forms in rose pink, mauve, lavender and turquoise blue rise over a layered field of cream white brushed with violet. Washes of red and orange fade into hot pink in this vibrant abstract painting by the artist. You can see the influence of tropical colors in this canvas and a wistful yearning for the beach and the sea. Debra Drexler is an American painter, installation artist, curator and professor. Her work is informed both by participating in the contemporary resurgence of abstraction coming out of New York, and by living in the Post Colonial Pacific since 1992. She has participated in over thirty solo and over 100 group exhibitions in national and international venues including Front Room Gallery, Exit Art, The Drawing Center, White Box-The Annex, Art Finance Partners, Van Der Plas Gallery, Sideshow Gallery, and Denise Bibro Gallery in New York, as well The Honolulu Museum of Art and Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Debra Drexler is a Professor at the University of Hawaii, where she is Chair of the Drawing and Painting Area. She maintains studios in Brooklyn, NY and on the island of Oahu in Hawai’i. Debra Drexler's most recent work is highly experimental large-scale abstract painting. In a recent review of a two-person exhibition (Whitehot Magazine,2017) Drexler's work as clearly referencing the long tradition of American abstraction and the established legacy of the New York School. The reviewer, Jonathan Goodman, described the work as a “new non-objectivity” that comes out of the current moment. He states that Drexler's painting “quite accurately describes the spirit of abstract art today, in which painting is struggling to break free of the constraints of time." Debra Drexler frequently uses hot pink, a color with heavily gendered associations. Her hot pink brushstrokes...

The present work of art titled "Urban Abstraction (ripped off posters)" is part of a series of paintings that the artist composed in the 1980s and 1990s inspired by the observation of the urban reality of those years. The artist take the cue from his walks in Florence, both in the center and in the suburbs, and by the observation of billboards and posters scattered throughout the city. The mass of information, colors, messages and words were carried on the canvas with acrylic colors, ideally reconstructing the tears and overlaps of all the information and advertising contained on these huge sheets of paper that invade our cities. The geometric lines are overlaid with jagged lines, overlaps and color dripping and also the choice in the color palette, with different shades of white, gray, rose, orange red and blue helps in rendering the result of the tears and ripped paper. The result is a beautiful multicolored modern abstract canvas, both aesthetically and ethically, with many rich layers of color, texture and expression in which the artist leaves his own message. The painting is housed in a simple modern white lacquer wood frame. Andrea Spinelli...

This square edge filled canvas presents a mesmerizing yet relaxing spectrum of perfectly blended pigment. “I'd Slay Another Dragon for You” is from the “Mindfulness Circle” series by artist Ethan Blu...

Intriguing abstract impressionist style acrylic on canvas painting of a figure running titled "Perpetual Motion" by Cyrostofer/Christopher Shoemaker (...

Large abstract impressionist style figural painting titled "The Fourth Facade" by Cystofer/Christopher Shoemaker (Italian/German 20th c). Shoemaker calls Co...

Large, colorful abstract impressionist style painting by Cyrstofer/Christopher Shoemaker (Italian/German 20th c.) This piece is titled " Urban Coffee". It was part of a four paintin...

Fascinating large scale abstract impressionist style acrylic on canvas painting by Cyrstofer/Christopher Shoemaker (Italian/German 20th c). Features a grey, blue, and lavender ground centered by a large figure signed across bottom. Titled "Decompression of Thoughts" with gallery label on verso. Shoemaker calls Coachella Valley CA his home. Provenance: From the estate of Colin Fisher.