Chris Trueman @ Pulse NYC

TWFA's Chris Trueman will be exhibiting XX" at the PULSE Contemporary Art Fair in NY May 8-11. Trueman's work references a synthesis of historical abstract movements including Abstract Expressionism, OP art computer graphics, 3D modeling, Primitive Cave Paintings et La MODE. He mines the history of visual culture to create fresh, dynamic work that captivates on all levels. XX - Chris Trueman

The 9th Street Show - The Rise of Legends

New York City in the 1950’s was a pretty remarkable place. After WWII the city was a relative shell comprised of dilapidated buildings and neglected neighborhoods, with most people opting to live in the suburbs far away from the potential military target. Living and working amongst the derelict buildings was a group of young pioneer artists, bursting with intellect and creativity, yet struggling to have a voice in the art world. 9th St Show InviteIn 1951, art dealer Leo Castelli and a group of these young New York City artists joined forces to create the infamous 9Th St Show, a self-funded exhibition that in many ways changed the course of art history forever. Europe was losing its edge and what was relevant, current and exciting was happening in America’s own back yard, despite being overlooked by the local art scene. At that time, there was only a small number of galleries in Manhattan, all were clustered around 57th street and all dealed primarily in European art. The collective rented an abandoned antique store at 60, East 9th Street for $40 and together put on a ground-breaking exhibition that ‘appropriated a visibility that American Society had denied them for so long’. The Abstract Expressionist Movement burst onto the scene and caught the attention of not only critics but the culture at large. These artists ultimately became some of the most celebrated and valued of all time. One of the youngest exhibitors in the 9th Street show was TW Fine Art’s Michael Goldberg. At that time Michael Goldberg had changed his name to Michael Stuart to avoid the association with his aristocratic family and his father. Goldberg told stories of taxis lining up down the street with crowds of people amassing outside the space on opening night. The New York Times labeled it an ‘uncommon exhibit of the New York avant-garde spectacularly coming together’. Over the next 50 years the focus of the art world would shift from Europe to America and today there are over 1500 galleries in Manhattan alone. People have returned to the city. The end of the Cold War boosted people’s confidence in the safety of the metropolis and slowly but surely people began to gentrify the forgotten neighborhoods to create the New York City of today. It’s unheard of for artists to be able to rent an exhibition space for $40 anymore – the thought makes today’s artists green with envy! The creative community that existed in those days is now geographically dispersed since Manhattan is for the most part unaffordable for the young avant-garde - the artist interested in the art and not the sale. Goldberg used to loathe walking through Chelsea (the modern art hub) “I fucking hate Chelsea, the content of the work is money no matter what it masquerades as”. In many ways, what he said is true – Mike was about art, not the money that came from today’s art celebrity culture. “I consider myself an old-fashioned modernist in that I think painting can change the world. And the desperation is about the fact that I know it can’t.” Our own artist collective now lives all across the world although our roots are in New York City, where we all gathered as students, mentors and young artists. The Internet serves as our club and although separated by geographical distance, our bonds are strong and our art has been globalized in a manner that in many ways may now represent the future trajectory of the art world.     David Byrne Sculpture  

MasDeco Market

MasDeco Market is a unique design fair that showcases everything from furniture to fine art. Created in 2012 by Chilean newspaper La Tercera, MasDeco invites young designers and artists to exhibit their work in a trade show environment. On April 23rd the fifth installment of MasDeco Market begins at Centro Cultural Estación Mapocho, Plaza de la Cultura in Santiago Chile. This year TWFA's Bernadita Castillo will be participating and exhibiting recent work.    

Emily Silver - Superpositions at Raid Projects in Los Angeles

Emily Silver's exhibition 'Superpositions' opens tonight, January 25th at Raid Projects in Los Angeles. On view will be Silver’s whimsical, glittery sculptural vanitas*. *In the arts, a vanita is a type of symbolic work of art especially associated with still life painting in the Netherlands in the 16th and 17th centuries. RAID PROJECTS:  602 Moulton Ave., Los Angeles, California 90031. OPENING 7:00pm Screen Shot 2014-01-25 at 9.28.19 AM