Dark Days

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Marlene Dumas, The Blindfolded Man, 2007. Oil on canvas.
Via David Zwirner, NYC.

Marlene Dumas is one of my favorite painters working today. Her technique and color palette are stunning, and in combination with her often macabre subject matter, create an irresistible, almost physical pull when seen in person. It's hard to describe – there is an inscrutable quality about her work that demands close attention but always keeps you at arm's length. I imagine that if you lived with one of her paintings you would find something different in it every day.

The Teacher (sub a), 1987. Oil on canvas.

Jule – die Vrou, 1985. Oil on canvas.

Dumas's first show since joining David Zwirner in 2008 is on view now through April 24. Titled Off the Wall, it features all new paintings from 2009 and 2010 and marks the first time since 2001 that she has presented new work in New York. (The painting immediately below is from this show; those above were part of Dumas's retrospective last year at MoMA.)

Wall Wailing, 2009. Oil on linen.

David Zwirner is at 519 West 19th Street, NYC. If you're there be sure to also check out R. Crumb's exhibit, The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb's Book of Genesis, which closes April 17.

And

I've just returned from a few days in ice-cold NYC for some client meetings, so most of this week's posts will be on the stuff I ran across during that brief whirlwind. Here are some photos to kick it off…

Marlene Dumas from her current show Measuring Your Own Grave at MoMA

Swoon in Chelsea

Birds in Bryant Park that reminded me of Littlejeans, both because they look like him, and because he used to stare at this particular fun-size species out the window and think murderous thoughts.

A little garbage rabbit, 22nd Street, Chelsea

53rd Street, Midtown

27th Street, Chelsea

People on 10th Avenue watching news of the crash landing in the Hudson.

My brother outside of Jones, where we had brunch before I left. They were playing the Cave Singers and Dead Moon as we sipped bloody marias and ate our sausage, eggs and grits at the counter. Seemed like a good way to end the trip.

…and here's what I came back to:


I will love and miss New York forever, but I'll be back a lot.
And Seattle? When it's sunny out? Absolutely stunning.

John Baldessari, Goya Series: And, 1997,
from Artist's Choice + Vik Muniz = Rebus at MoMA