After a sleepy summer the art world is once again up and running full tilt. Among the hundreds of painting shows on view throughout the country this month are close to three-dozen solos by New American Paintings’ alumni. They range from shows by talented emerging artists such as Samantha Bittman at Andrew Rafacz in Chicago and Suzannah Sinclair in Boston to strong mid-career painters such as the phenomenal Sarah McEneaney at Tibor de Nagy in New York City and Emily Eveleth at Miller Yezerski Gallery in Boston. I want to give a special shout out to my buddy Eddie Martinez, whose show at the new Kohn Gallery space in Los Angeles confirms what many already knew: Eddie is one of the best natural painters of his generation.

Sarah McEneaney. Courtesy of Tibor de Nagy.

There is a lot of good abstraction on view this month. For those in New York City, the fearless Chris Martin has his debut at Anton Kern Gallery and the much-hyped Norwegian artist Fredrik Vaerslev can be considered at Andrew Kreps Gallery. Also in New York, co-curator for the 2014 Whitney Biennial and juror for our upcoming Northeast issue, Michelle Grabner, has just opened a must-see show at James Cohan Gallery. In Los Angeles, don’t miss Sam Falls at Hannah Hoffman and Pia Fries at Christopher Grimes Gallery. If you are in the Bay Area, visit Jessica Silverman Gallery to see the work of Hugh Scott-Douglas, who, like an increasing number of emerging artists, is obsessed with process.

While abstraction continues to look good this season, representational painting has been making a comeback and it owns the month. Over the past two years, more and more young artists have been engaging with imagery, in particular the figure. There are the aforementioned exhibitions by Sarah McEneaney and Suzannah Sinclair to consider. In New York City, emerging artist Gina Beavers continues to push impasto to the limits in her new group of paintings at Clifton Benevento and the virtuosic Angela Dufresne has a new suite of paintings with figure in landscape at Monya Rowe Gallery. Other shows of note around the country include: Storm Tharp at PDX in Portland, OR; Angela Fraleigh at Inman Gallery in Houston; Whitney Bedford at Carrie Secrist in Chicago; and the group show “Bedtime Stories” at Alpha Gallery in Boston.

In a quiet, but extraordinary exhibition at Matthew Marks Gallery in New York, LA-based artist Paul Sietsema renders carefully selected imagery with such technical dexterity that they almost revert to real objects. Sietsema is not interested in trompe-l’oeil for the sake of showing off; at the end of the day, his paintings and works on paper are a highly considered critique of the production of cultural objects and the roles that they play as they circulate. Taken as a whole, this exhibition represents the various aspects of how a painting can function. - Steven Zevitas, Publisher

NEW AMERICAN PAINTINGS ARTISTS ON VIEW

BOSTON:

Bedtime Stories (Aaron Fink NAP #7, Elizabeth Livingston NAP MFA 2007, Scott Prior NAP #7, Suzanne Vincent NAP #26, #50)
October 4 – 29, 2014
Alpha Gallery

Elizabeth Livingston. Courtesy of Alpha Gallery.

Emily Eveleth (NAP #7)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 24 – December 20, 2014
Miller Yezerski Gallery

Suzannah Sinclair (NAP #74)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 5 – October 25, 2014
Samson

Suzannah Sinclair. Courtesy of Samson.

Franklin Evans (NAP #62)
October 16 – December 13 , 2014
Steven Zevitas Gallery

CHICAGO:

Samantha Bittman (NAP #87, #101)      PUBLISHER’S PICK    
September 19 – November 1, 2014
Andrew Rafacz

Samantha Bittman. Courtesy of Andrew Rafacz Gallery.

Kim Piotrowski (NAP #83)
Spetember 5 – October 18, 2014
Linda Warren Projects

Lille Carre (NAP #113)
September 5 – October 18, 2014
Western Exhibitions

DALLAS:

Vincent Falsetta (NAP #5, #18, #60, #78)
October 11 – November 15, 2014
Conduit Gallery

HOUSTON:

Julie Bozzi (NAP #54)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 24 – December 13, 2014
Talley Dunn Gallery

KANSAS CITY:

Peregrine Honig (NAP #29, #41, #53, #71, #101)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 24 – December 6, 2014
Haw Contemporary

LOS ANGELES:

Sandow Birk (NAP #6, #31, #67, #73, #103, #115)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 13 – October 17, 2014
Koplin Del Rio

Eddie Martinez (NAP #68)      PUBLISHER’S PICK    
September 9 – October 25, 2014
Michael Kohn Gallery

Eddie Martinez. Courtesy of Kohn Gallery.

MIAMI:

Amerika (Wendy White, NAP #22, #28)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 26 – November 15, 2014
David Castillo

NEW YORK CITY:

Monique Van Genderen (NAP #115)
October 9 – November 8, 2014
Ameringer | McEnery | Yohe

Gina Beavers (NAP #116)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September – October 25, 2014
Clifton Benevento

Gina Beavers. Courtesy of Clifton Benevento.

James Rieck (NAP #57)
October 9 – November 8, 2014
Lyons Wier Gallery

Yoshiaki Mochizuki (NAP #104)
September 6 – October 11, 2014
Marlborough

Angela Dufresne (NAP #62, #92)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 7 – November 2, 2014
Monya Rowe Gallery

Angela Dufresne. Courtesy of Monya Rowe Gallery.

Laura Ball (NAP #61, #97)
October 16 – November 15, 2014
Morgan Lehman

Orly Genger and James Siena (James Siena, NAP #32, #44)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 19 – October 26, 2014
Sargeant’s Daughters

Sarah McEneaney (NAP #8, #21)      PUBLISHER’S PICK    
October 16 – November 22, 2014
Tibor De Nagy Gallery

PHILADELPHIA:

Charles Burwell (NAP #8, #51)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 14 – November 21, 2014
Bridgette Mayer Gallery

Charles Burwell. Courtesy of Bridgette Mayer Gallery.

Rob Matthews (NAP #57)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 11 – November 22, 2014
Gallery Joe

PORTLAND:

Storm Tharp (NAP #115)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 30 – November 1, 2014
PDX

Storm Tharp. Courtesy of PDX.

SAN FRANCISCO:

Ruth Pastine (NAP #67)     
September 6 – October 25, 2014
Brian Gross Fine Art

Jered Sprecher (NAP #64, NAP MFA 2000)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 5 – October 17, 2014
Gallery 16

Eric Zener (NAP #19)
October 1 – November 30, 2014
Hespe Gallery

Ruth Laskey and Suzan Frecon (Ruth Laskey, NAP MFA 2004)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 5 – October 25, 2014
Ratio 3

Ruth Laskey and Suzan Frecon. Courtesy of Ratio 3.

OTHER ARTISTS ON VIEW

ATLANTA:

Benjamin Britton    
September 20 – October18, 2014
Marcia Wood Gallery

AUSTIN/DALLAS/HOUSTON:

Angela Fraleigh      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 25 – December 20, 2014
Inman Gallery

Danny Rolph
October 10 – November 15, 2014
Barbara Davis Gallery

Paul Manes
October 11 – November 15, 2014
Cris Worley Fine Arts

Rusty Scruby
October 25 – November 26, 2014
McMurtrey Gallery

BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON DC/PHILLADELPHIA:

Markus Baldegger
October 1 – November 15, 2014
C. Grimaldis Gallery

Anthony Campuzano      PUBLISHER’S PICK
Mark Mahosky
September 26 – November 15, 2014
Fleisher Ollman Gallery

Mark Mahosky. Courtesy of Fleisher/Ollman Gallery.

David Brewster
October 1 – 31, 2014
Gross McCleaf Gallery

Alma Thomas
October 11 – December 20, 2014
Hemphill Fine Arts

John Moore
October 3 – November 8, 2014
Locks Gallery

Gene Davis
September 20 – November 1, 2014
Marsha Mateyka Gallery

BOSTON:

Robert Cottingham
October 25 – November 22, 2014
Barbara Krakow Gallery

Squeak Carnwath
October 7 – November 22, 2014
Clark Gallery

CHICAGO

Eugene von Bruenchenein
September 5 – October 25, 2014
Carl Hammer Gallery

Whitney Bedford      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 19 – November 15, 2014
Carrie Secrist Gallery

Whitney Bedford. Courtesy of Carrie Secrist Gallery.

Natalie Frank
September 12 – October 25, 2014
Rhona Hoffman Gallery

Zak Prekop      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 10 – November 15, 2014
Shane Campbell Gallery

DENVER/PHOENIX/SANTA FE:

Eugene Newmann
October 17 – November 22, 2014
David Richard Gallery

Matt Magee      PUBLISHER’S PICK
August 29 – October 25, 2014
James Kelly Contemporary

Matt Magee. Courtesy of James Kelly Contemporary.

Nina Elder
September 12 – October 18, 2014
Rule

Bob Knox
October 24 – December 6, 2014
William Havu Gallery

Dirk de Bruycker      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 26 – November 2, 2014
LewAllen Galleries

LOS ANGELES:

Aaron Morse
October 11 – November 8, 2014
ACME

Joe Reihsen
September 13 – October 15, 2014
Anat Ebgi

Dave Muller
September 19 – November 15, 2014
Blum & Poe

Jennifer Boysen
September 20 – October 25, 2014
Cherry and Martin

Pia Fries      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 13 – November 1, 2014
Christopher Grimes Gallery

Pia Fries. Courtesy of Christopher Grimes Gallery.

Sayre Gomez
October 10
Francois Ghebaly Gallery

Sam Falls       PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 5 – October 25, 2014
Hannah Hoffman

Sam Falls. Courtesy of Hannah Hoffman Gallery.

Alex Becerra
September 3 – October 11, 2014
ltd los angeles

Mimi Lauter
September 12 – October 11, 2014
Marc Selwyn Fine Art

Armen Eloyan
September 6 – November 7, 2014
Patrick Painter

Kehinde Wiley
September 13 – October 25, 2014
Roberts & Tilton

Ryan Mosley
September 6 – October 18, 2014
Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects

Carole Bayer Sager      
September 18 0- November 8, 2014
William Turner Gallery

MIDWEST:

Leslie Laskey      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 17 – November 15, 2014
Bruno David Gallery

Leslie Laskey, Courtesy of Bruno David Gallery.

Gaylen Gerber      PUBLISHER’S PICK
November 2014
The Green Gallery

NEW ORLEANS:

Deborah Kass      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 4 – 25, 2014
Arthur Roger Gallery

NEW YORK CITY:

Wayne Thiebaud      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 1 – November 21, 2014
Acquavella Galleries

Matthew Ritchie
September 12 – October 22, 2014
Andrea Rosen Gallery

Fredrik Vaerslev      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 11 – October 25, 2014
Andrew Kreps Gallery

Fredrik Vaerslev. Courtesy of Andrew Kreps Gallery.

Stanley Lewis
September 7 – October 25, 3014
Betty Cunningham Gallery

Jennifer Reeves
September 5 – October 11, 2014
BravinLee Programs

Heather Guertin      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 7 – October 12, 2014
Brennan & Griffin

Heather Guertin. Courtesy of Brennan & Griffin.

Amy Feldman
September 12 – October 26, 2014
Blackston

Jason Fox      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 12 – October 26, 2014
Canada

Abdullah Qandeel
September 18 – October 19, 2014
Judith Charles Gallery

Jenny Holzer
September 11 0- October 25, 2014
Cheim & Reid

Theresa Chong
October 17 – November 15, 2014
Danese

Tomma Abts
Spetember 10 – October 25, 2014
David Zwirner

Jane Wilson
October 9 – November 1, 2014
DC Moore

William Latta
September 12 – October 12, 2014
Eli Ping

Jim Shaw      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 12 – October 25, 2014
Metro Pictures

Jim Shaw. Courtesy of Metro Pictures.

David Humphrey      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 9 – November 8, 2014
Fredericks & Freiser

Ezra Johnson
October 2 – November 1, 2014
Freight + Volume

Helen Frankenthaler
September 11 – October 18, 2014
Gagosian Gallery

Jesse Littlefield      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 9 – November 8, 2014
Horton Gallery

Michelle Grabner      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 9 – November 8, 2014
James Cohan Gallery

Michelle Grabner. Courtesy of James Cohan Gallery.

Tomer Aluf
September 6 – October 11, 2014
KANSAS

Ivan Morley      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 18 – October 29, 2014
Kimmerich

Jane Corrigan
September 13 – October 26, 2014
Kerry Schuss (KS Art)

Jane Corrigan. Courtesy of Kerry Schuss (KS Art)

Wendell Gladstone
September 4 – October 11, 2014
Kravets | Wehby Gallery

Harriet Korman
September 18 – November 1, 2014
Lennon, Weinberg, Inc.

Ian Davis      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 11 – October 25, 2014
Leslie Tonkonow Artworks + Projects

Ian Davis. Courtesy of Leslie Tonkonow Fine Art.

Sharon Horvath      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 9 – November 8, 2014
Lori Bookstein Fine Art

Ryan Brady & Nick Farhi
September – October 18, 2014
Louis B James

Otto Muehl
September 12 – October 18, 2014
Maccarone

Paul Sietsema      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 13 – October 25, 2014
Matthew Marks Gallery

Paul Sietsema. Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery.

Jorg Immendorf
September 11 – November 1, 2014
Michael Werner

Strauss Bourque-LaFrance
September 7 – October 19, 2014
Rachel Uffner Gallery

Peter Sacks
September 12 – November 1, 2014
Robert Miller Gallery

Lance De Los Reyes
October 3 – November 2, 2014
The Hole
 
Jeff Zilm      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 18 – October 26, 2014
The Journal

Chris Martin      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 9 – November 15, 2014
Anton Kern Gallery

Chris Martin. Courtesy of Anton Kern Gallery.

Mike Cloud
September 11 – October 18, 2014
Thomas Erben Gallery

Ian Tweedy
September 7 – October 19, 2014
Untitled

Kate Shepherd      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 12 – October 18, 2014
Galerie Lelong

PORTLAND/SEATTLE:

Ryan Pierce
October 2 – November 1, 2014
Elizabeth Leach Gallery

Joe Max Emminger
Andrea Joyce Heimer
October 2 – November 1, 2014
Linda Hodges Gallery

SAN FRANCISCO:

Philip Buller    
October 3 – November 7, 2014
Andrea Schwartz Gallery

Tam Van Tran
October 31 – December 5, 2014
Anthony Meier Fine Arts

Barbara Takenaga
September 4 – October 18, 2014
Gregory Lind Gallery

Hugh Scott-Douglas      PUBLISHER’S PICK
September 5 – November 1, 2014
Jessica Silverman Gallery

Hugh Scott-Douglas. Courtesy of Jessica Silverman Gallery.

John Santoro
September 9 – November 1, 2014
Paul Thiebaud Gallery

Pamela Jorden      PUBLISHER’S PICK
October 24 – December 20, 2014
Romer Young Gallery

Pamela Jorden. Courtesy of Romer Young Gallery.