BILLY AL BENGSTON
It Hit The Fan!


September 28—November 3, 2012

Opening reception: Friday, September 28, 5:00-7:00 PM

David Richard Gallery, LLC
Railyard Arts District
544 South Guadalupe Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-983-9555
www.DavidRichardGallery.com


Billy Al Bengston has been a part of the Venice Beach scene in California since the late 1950s. He was one of the early artists of the important Ferus Gallery along with Ken Price, John Altoon, Robert Irwin, Craig Kauffman, Ed Kienholz and Ed Moses. Best known for his various symbols such as sergeant stripes, iris flowers (referred to as Draculas by his friend Ken Price) and anthuriums, which became his personal signatures and characterized his artwork for decades. Bengston started working in clay, but switched to painting on canvas, metal and paper and creating collages. He is a serious artist, but never takes himself too seriously. Focusing on his signature icons creates a readily available device, partly eliminating the need for compositional decisions and allowing him to critically explore painting, while seemingly poking fun at some aspect of contemporary culture or consumerism. Bengston’s art, for the most part, is indescribable and after five decades maybe that has been his grand plan, to keep us guessing and wondering, what is the point—maybe there is no point other than challenging viewers and critics alike to just LOOK, ask a question, but decide for themselves what the message might be. Abstract and colorful, infused with wacky imagery, his art is never slick, maybe a bit irreverent, but always humorous and painterly with brushstrokes, drips, personal touches and a bit of kitsch.

This exhibition is not only the gallery’s first solo show for Bengston, but the first presentation of a series of paintings he produced from 1992-1994. Like much of his art, and as the title might suggest, this body of work spawned from a personal aspect of his life. Conceptually, it is classic Bengston, but with new imagery—a heavy dose of iridescent paint, psychedelia, island culture and large undefined blobs flying through the air—giving one the sense of looking at earth from outer space through a meteor shower. Bengston frequently referred to this series of paintings as “human comedies.” So, once again, leaving us to our own imaginations.

David Richard Gallery is located in the Santa Fe Railyard Arts District and specializes in post-war abstract art including Abstract Expressionism, Color Field, geometric, hard-edge, Op, Pop, Minimalism and conceptualism in a variety of media. Featuring both historic and contemporary artwork, the gallery represents many established artists who were part of important art historical movements and tendencies that occurred during the 1950s through the 1980s on both the east and west coasts. The gallery also represents artist estates, emerging artists and offers secondary market works.

Associated Artist

• Billy Al Bengston

Associated Exhibitions

• BILLY AL BENGSTON It Hit the Fan
  September 28, 2012 - November 3, 2012
  MORE INFO

Associated News

• September 29, 2012
  
  THE DAVID RICHARD GALLERY EXHIBITS BILLY AL BENGSTON
  Art Media Agency, 09/29/2012
  
  


• September 14, 2012
  Press Release - Billy Al Bengston "It Hit The Fan"