The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis Presents Richard Aldrich and the 19th Century French Painting open January 21 – May 1, 2011.
Chronicling an abstract personal account of his relationships, studio practice, and his sense of history through a spectrum of techniques, New York-based artist Richard Aldrich has in recent years placed himself at the forefront of a new approach to the medium that re-thinks how a painting is made, how it is experienced, and ultimately what it all means. The Contemporary Art Museum is proud to announce the first major museum exhibition by this emerging artist, who offers a new perspective on how this most time-honored form of art can be understood. Decidedly literary and personal, Aldrich’s paintings are deeply interconnected, as he draws together elements of the studio, the cosmos of canvas scraps and books that fill it. The Contemporary presents twenty paintings spanning dense abstraction, figuration, “object paintings,” and collage–all which come together to showcase the startling breadth of his painterly investigations. In addition, Aldrich will present four works from the St. Louis Art Museum’s permanent collection among his own installation. Exploring unexpected juxtapositions between history and the present, and reframing our expectations for the quintessential “19th century French painting” through the lens of contemporary art, Richard Aldrich produces an exhibition reveal the magic of and new possibilities for painting today.
Richard Aldrich and the 19th Century French Painting is curated by Laura Fried, Associate Curator, and organized by the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.
Image: Richard Aldrich “If I Paint Crowned I’ve Had It, Got Me,” 2008.
Oil and wax on wood, on cut linen, 84 x 58 inches. Collection of Carlo Bronzini Vender. Photo courtesy of the artist and Bortolami Gallery, New York
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
3750 Washington Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
www.camstl.org