Back in December, I wrote an article in which I suggested that, after a number of years in which abstraction has been the dominant mode of painting in the “contemporary art world,” we might start to see an upswing in image-based painting. It is not exactly a Delphic prophecy given the way in which today’s market driven art world is constantly craving the next best thing, and, I might add, in ever more compressed cycle times. In conducting my monthly survey of commercial gallery shows this month I was struck by the amount of representational work on view, and even more so by the “academic” rigor much of it evinces. So what am I talking about? Have a look… – Steven Zevitas, Publisher

Deborah Oropallo. Courtesy of Catherine Clark Gallery, San Francisco.

In Denver, Sarah Mckenzie’s meditations on urban structure look great at David B. Smith Gallery, as do Jenny Brillhart’s studio landscapes at Emerson Dorsch in Miami. In New York City, be sure to check out New American Paintings’ alum Alison Blickle’s solo debut at Kravets|Wehby; Robert Longo at Petzel; and the exquisite work of mature German painter Peter Dreher, which is rarely seen in the United States, at Koenig & Clinton. Katie Miller shows of her technical chops with a new group of her art historically grounded, but resolutely contemporary figure paintings at CONNERSMITH in Washington, D.C. On the West Coast, Emily Davis Adams is a must see at CB1 in Los Angeles, and in San Francisco, be sure to catch Japanese artist Shinpei Kusanagi at Altman Siegel and West Coast-based mid-career painter Deborah Oropallo at Catharine Clark Gallery.

In Boston, Barbara Krakow Gallery has a fantastic husband and wife exhibition featuring Bronlyn Jones, whose work is non-objective, and Robert Bauer, who produces extraordinarily nuanced landscapes and portraiture. (If you have never seen one of Bauer’s small portrait paintings, visit Forum Gallery’s site and have a look…they possess a shocking immediacy.) Though their journeys begin in different places, Bauer and Jones are both ultimately interested in the ability of visual language to reveal something essential about how we think and perceive.

The Whitney Biennial effect can been seen this month as opportunistic dealers around the country mount exhibitions of artists featured in the show everyone loves to hate. In The Windy City, Philip Hanson, an artist associated with the Chicago Imagism, has a solo show at Corbett vs. Dempsey. In New York’s Lower East Side, Etel Adnan is on view at Callicoon Fine Arts, as is Tony Lewis at Room East and Rochelle Feinstein at On Stellar Rays.  Just uptown in Chelsea, one of my favorite mid-career painters, Dona Nelson, opens this week at Thomas Erben Gallery.

NEW AMERICAN PAINTINGS ARTISTS ON VIEW

ATLANTA:

Lynn Davison (NAP #3, #22, #58)      
April 25 – June 21, 2014
Alan Avery Art Company

BIRMINGHAM:

Travis Somerville (NAP #13)
April 2014
Beta Pictoris

BOSTON:

Bronlyn Jones & Robert Bauer (NAP #7)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 22 – April 26, 2014
Barbara Krakow Gallery

Bronlyn Jones and Robert Bauer. Courtesy of Barbara Krakow Gallery, Boston.

Iva Gueorguieva (NAP #73)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 18 – May 31, 2014
Samson

Jered Sprecher (NAP MFA 2000, #64)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 3 – May 10, 2014
Steven Zevitas Gallery

Jered Sprecher. Courtesy of Steven Zevitas Gallery, Boston.

CHICAGO:

Mary Lou Zelazny (NAP #11, #35)
April 4 – May 17, 2014
Carl Hammer Gallery

Anthony Adcock (NAP #107)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April/May 2014
Packer Schopf Gallery

David Schutter (NAP #59, #65)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 12 – May 31, 2014
Rhona Hoffman Gallery

David Schutter. Courtesy of Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Chicago.

Scott Wolniak (NAP #95, 107)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 4 – May 31, 2014
Valerie Carberry Gallery

Scott Wolniak. Courtesy of Valerie Carberry Gallery, Chicago.

Paul Nudd (NAP #71, #83, #95)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 14 – April 19, 2014
Western Exhibitions

Paul Nudd. Courtesy of Western Exhibitions, Chicago.

DENVER:

Sarah McKenzie (NAP #36, #65, #84, #108)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 14 – April 12, 2014
David B. Smith Gallery

HOUSTON:

Jay Shinn (NAP #78, #108)    
April 25 – May 24, 2014
Barbara Davis Gallery

LOS ANGELES:

Evan Nesbit (NAP #99)         PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 15 – April 19, 2014
Roberts & Tilton

Evan Nesbit. Courtesy of Roberts & Tilton, Los Angeles.

MIAMI:

Metabolic Bodies (Featuring Wendy White, NAP #22, #28)
April 5 – May 10, 2014
David Castillo

Michael Scoggins (NAP MFA 2003, #58, #70)        PUBLISHER’S PICK
April/May 2014
Diana Lowenstein Gallery

Jenny Brillhart (NAP #70, #76, #112)          PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 14 – April 19, 2014
Dorsch Gallery

Jenny Brillhart. Courtesy of Emerson Dorsch, Miami.

NEW ORLEANS:

Gina Phillips (NAP #94)
April 15 – May 31, 2014
Jonathan Ferrara Gallery

NEW YORK CITY:

Shorthand    (Featuring Brian Nuda Rosch, NAP #97)    PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 15 – April 19, 2014
DCKT

Robert Yoder (NAP #19, #31, #85)    
April 10 – May 18, 2014
Frosch & Portmann

Brenna Youngblood (NAP #103)     PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 3 – April 19, 2014
Jack Tilton Gallery

Alison Blickle (NAP #109)      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 27 – April 26, 2014
Kravets | Wehby Gallery

Alison Blickle. Courtesy of Kravets | Wehby Gallery, New York City.

Tameka Norris (NAP #99)      
March 6 – April 19, 2014
Lombard Freid Projects

Laura Sharp Wilson (NAP #39, #53, #96, #108)   
March 30 – May 4, 2014
McKenzie Fine Art

Katia Santibañez (NAP #104)     
March 8 – April  12, 2014
Morgan Lehman

Katie Santibañez. Courtesy of Morgan Lehman, New York City.

Summer Wheat (NAP #98, #104)     PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 16 – April 13, 2014
Pocket Utopia

Dee Ferris, Barnaby Furnas, Annie Lapin (NAP #73, #91)
April 6 – 27, 3014
Sargeant’s Daughters

PHOENIX:

Tim Bavington (NAP #42)
March 6 – April 20, 2014
Bentley

SAN FRANCISCO:

Jamie Brunson (NAP #13, #31)
March 12 – April 18, 2014
Andrea Schwartz Gallery

Louise LeBourgeois (NAP #23, #83)
April 3 – 26, 2014
Dolby Chadwick Gallery

SEATTLE:

Anne Siems (NAP #6, #25, #37) 
April 3 – May 17, 2014
Grover/Thurston Gallery

Gayle Bard  (NAP #6)  
April 3 – 26, 2013
Linda Hodges Gallery

OTHER ARTISTS ON VIEW

ATLANTA:

Medford Johnston      PUBLISHER’S PICK
February 14 – April 19, 2014
Sandler Hudson Gallery

AUSTIN/DALLAS/HOUSTON:

Billy Hassell
April 5 – May 10, 2014
Conduit Gallery

Kelli Vance
April 5 – May 10, 2014
Cris Worley Fine Arts

Shimon Minimikawa
April 2014
Inman Gallery

Tom Molloy
March 22 – May 10, 2014
Lora Reynolds Gallery

David Bates      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 5 – May 24, 2014
Talley Dunn Gallery

David Bates. Courtesy of Talley Dunn Gallery, Houston.

Jake Gilson
March 29 – April 26, 2014
William Campbell Contemporary Art

BALTIMORE/DC/PHILLY:

Neil Anderson
March 4 – April 29, 2014
Bridgette Mayer Gallery

Katie Miller      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 12 – May 31. 2014
CONNERSMITH.

Katie Miller. Courtesy of CONNERSMITH, Washington, D.C. 

Sebastian Rug      PUBLISHER’S PICK
Jill Baroff
April 19 – May 31, 2014
Gallery Joe

Neysa Grassi
April 4 – 30, 2014
Locks Gallery

BOSTON:

Fred Liang
April 2 – May 31, 2014
Carroll & Sons

Joseph Barbieri
April 4 – May 3, 2014
Gallery NAGA

Sean Downey
April/May 2014
LaMontagne Gallery

CHICAGO:

John Knuth       PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 5 – May 10, 2014
Andrew Rafacz

John Knuth. Courtesy of Andrew Rafacz, Chicago.

Philip Hanson      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 21 – April 19, 2014
Corbett vs. Dempsey

Rim Lee
April 11 – May 17, 2014
Kasia Kay Art Projects Gallery

Jose Lerma
February 22 – May 17, 2014
Kavi Gupta

Jose Lerma. Courtesy of Kavi Gupta, Chicago.

Joseph Noderer
April 11 – May 17, 2014
Linda Warren Projects

William J. O’Brien
March 15 – April 26, 2014
Shane Campbell Gallery

DENVER/PHOENIX/SANTA FE:

David Simpson
April 4 – May 4, 2014
Charlotte Jackson Fine Art

Julian Stanczak
March 14 – April 19, 2014
David Richard Gallery

Chuck Forsman
March 20 – May 10, 2014
Robischon Gallery

LOS ANGELES:

Jan Albers
March 15 – April 26, 2014
1301PE

Gary Lang
April 2014
Ace Gallery

Isabelle Cornaro      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 4 – April 19, 2014
Hannah Hoffman

Isabelle Cornaro. Courtesy of Hannah Hoffman, Los Angeles. 

Daniel Cummings
March 22 -  April 19, 2014
ACME

Grant Barnhart
March 22 – April 19, 2014
Ambach & Rice

Margo Wolowiec
April 19 – May 31, 2014
Anat Ebgi

Emily Davis Adams      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 23 – April 27, 2014
CB1 Gallery

Emily David Adams. Courtesy of CB1, Los Angeles. 

Mary Weatherford      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 19 – May 31, 2014
David Kordansky Gallery

Allen Ruppersberg      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 22 – May 17, 2014
Marc Selwyn Fine Art

Allen Ruppersberg. Courtesy of Marc Selwyn Fine Art, Los Angeles. 

Cogwheels Carved in Wood
April 19 – May 17, 2014
Night Gallery

Ryan Sluggett
March 22 – April 19, 2014
Richard Telles Fine Art

Michael Staniak
March 21 – April 26, 2014
Steve Turner Contemporary

Elliott Hundley      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 12 – May 17, 2014
Regen Projects

Elliott Hundley. Courtesy of Regen Projects, Los Angeles. 

Nicola Tyson
March 1 – April 12, 2014
Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects

Lucas Knipscher      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 25 – June 7, 2014
Thomas Duncan Gallery

Bart Exposito       PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 1 – April 12, 2014
Thomas Solomon Gallery

Bart Exposito. Courtesy of Thomas Solomon Gallery, Los Angeles. 

MIDWEST:

Robert Davis
April 4 – 26, 2014
Bill Brady/KC

Robert Kushner
January 10 – April 12, 2014
Carl Solway Gallery

James Brinsfeild
April 11 – May 24, 2014
Haw/Contemporary

Jamie Adams      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 11 – May 17, 2014
Philip Slein Gallery

NEW ORLEANS:

Bunny Matthews
March 15 – April 19, 2014
Arthur Roger Gallery

NYC:

Damian Loeb
March 1 – April 11, 2014
Acquavella Galleries

Heidi Bucher
April 9 – May 18, 2014
Alexander Gray Associates

Ethan Cook     PUBLISHER’S PICK
February 27 – April 12, 2014
American Contemporary

Kevin Appel       PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 13 – April 19, 2014
Ameringer | McEnery | Yohe

Kevin Appel. Courtesy of Ameringer|McEnery|Yohe, New York City.

Friedrich Kunath
March 15 – April 26, 2014
Andrea Rosen Gallery

Rackstraw Downes
April 3 – May 3, 2014
Betty Cunningham Gallery

Dave McDermott
March 8 – April 13, 2014
Brennan & Griffin

Etel Adnan     PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 3 – May 23, 2014
Callicoon Fine Arts

Etel Adnan. Courtesy of Callicoon Fine Arts, New York City.

Paul Heyer
April 6 – May 11, 2014
Chapter NY

Ghada Amer
April 3 – May 10, 2014
Cheim & Reid

Jordan Kantor      PUBLISHER’S PICK
February 28 – April 12, 2014
Churner and Churner

Jackie Saccaccio      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 17 – May 18 2014
Eleven Rivington

Jackie Saccoccio. Courtesy of Eleven Rivington, New York City.

Oscar Murillo
April 24 -  June 14, 2014
David Zwirner

Romare Bearden      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 20 – April 19, 2014
DC Moore

Michael Rudokas
March 20 – April 27, 2014
Denny Gallery

Neil Farber      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 13 – April 19, 2014
Edward Thorp Gallery

Neil Farber. Courtesy of  Edward Thorp Gallery, New York City.

Timothy Hull
March 5 – April 20, 2014
Fitzroy Gallery

William Beckman
March 20 – April 26, 3014
Forum Gallery

Romer + Romer
March 20 – April 26, 2014
Freight + Volume

Robert Longo      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 10 – May 10, 2014
Friedrich Petzel Gallery

Robert Longo. Courtesy of Petzel, New York City.

Rudolf Stingel
March 4 – April 19, 2014
Gagosian Gallery

Loveless      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 25 – April 26, 2014
Greene Naftali

Nichole Van Beek      
April 4 – May 10, 2014
Jeff Bailey Gallery

Sylvan Lionni
March 15 – April 19, 2014
KANSAS

Roy Dowell
April 3 – May 3, 2014
Lennon, Weinberg, Inc.

Peter Dreher      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 17 – May 24, 2014
Leo Koenig Inc.

Peter Dreher. Courtesy of Koenig & Clinton, New York City.

Carter
March 23 – April 27, 2014
Lisa Cooley

Jeff Elrod      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 8 – April 12, 2014
Luhring Augustine

Ross Bleckner
March 8 – April 26, 2014
Mary Boone Gallery

Michel Majerus      PUBLISHER’S PICK
February 8 – April 19, 2014
Matthew Marks Gallery

Robert Longo
April 10 – May 23, 2014
Metro Pictures

Sigmar Polke      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 13 – June 7, 2014
Michael Werner

Sigmar Polke. Courtesy of Michael Werner, New York City.

Florian Pumhosl
March 2 – April 27, 2014
Miguel Abreu Gallery

Howard Fonda
March 20 – April 19, 2014
Mixed Greens

Jill Mason
April 18 = May 18, 2014
Nicelle Beauchene Gallery

Rochelle Feinstein      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 10 – May 11, 2014
On Stellar Rays

Rochelle Feinstein. Courtesy of On Stellar Rays, New York City.

Jules Olitski
March 6 – April 19, 2014
Paul Kasmin Gallery

Reed Anderson
March 21 – April 27, 2014
Pierogi

Joanne Greenbaum      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 8 – April 20, 2014
Rachel Uffner Gallery

Joanne Greenbaum. Courtesy of Rachel Uffner Gallery, New York City.

Tony Lewis
March 16 – April 13, 2014
Room East

Ali Banisadr
March 1 – April 19, 2014
Sperone Westwater

Pieter Vermeersch
March 30 – April 27, 2014
team (gallery, inc.)

Kika Karadi      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 4 – April 27, 2014
The Journal

Eve Aschheim      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 20 – April 19, 2014
Lori Bookstein Fine Art

Eve Aschheim. Courtesy of Lori Bookstein Fine Art, New York City.

Kenneth Noland       PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 21 – April 19, 2014
The Pace Gallery

Stas Volovik
March 19 – April 18, 2014
Thierry Goldberg Gallery

Dona Nelson       PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 3 -  May 17, 2014
Thomas Erben Gallery

Dona Nelson. Courtesy of Thomas Erben Gallery, New York City.

PORTLAND/SEATTLE:

The Ground      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 7 – April 26, 2014
Adams and Ollman

Thuy-Van Vu
March 20 – April 26, 2014
G. Gibson Gallery

Claire Cowie
March 13 – April 12, 2014
James Harris Gallery

Wes Mills      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 4 – April 12, 2014
PDX

SAN FRANCISCO:

Shinpei Kusanagi      PUBLISHER’S PICK
March 6 – April 19, 2014
Altman Siegel

Deborah Oropallo
April 12 – May 24, 2014      PUBLISHER’S PICK
Catharine Clark Gallery

Leonora Carrington      PUBLISHER’S PICK
April 3 – May 31, 2014
Frey Norris Contemporary & Modern

Rex Ray
April 4 – May 9, 2014
Gallery 16

Ben McLaughlin
March 20 – May 3, 2014
Hosfelt Gallery

Grace Munakata
February 18 – April 12, 2014
Paul Thiebaud Gallery

Elise Ferguson
April 4 – May 3, 2014
Romer Young Gallery