PICK OF THE WEEK: “Bruts”
David Kordansky Gallery

by | Jul 17, 2024

In this group exhibition of 15 artists, Rashid Johnson splendidly arranges ablaze and brooding drawings, paintings and sculptures into a pristine playlist. From Huma Bhabha’s uneasy cork, wood and cardboard ancient being and Bill Traylor’s acutely simple and lyrical drawings to Isa Genken’s trouble-free assemblage mannequins, the works span vastly different periods and mediums. My favorite thing about artist-curated exhibitions is seeing how artists make other artists, that is, a method of finding and becoming family. It’s a great pleasure to witness who is chosen to encircle an artist’s imagination, a most intimate space. At “Bruts,” it is the world according to Rashid Johnson and it discharges a callous and omniscient antiheroic disturbance that is simultaneously distinguished. In an almost old-fashioned and stubborn way, the constellation of these works is packaged together with pressure-fitted relevance—not a hair out of place, making complete sense—a rarity for a group exhibition. This quality of precision speaks to distinctive qualities in Johnson’s own work: an intense focus, nothing arbitrary, organized chaos, deep feelings that are both obvious and difficult to describe, a crisis and its effect.

 

David Kordansky Gallery
5130 W. Edgewood Place
Los Angeles, CA
On view through August 24, 2024

Newsletter

Subscribe to our weekly Gallery Rounds Newsletter for new Reviews, Art opps, Art Events, & More every week!

Thank you for Subscribing! Look out for the ARTILLERY Newsletter to your inbox on Thursday every week!