Tom Holland, Blue Still Life #1, 1985, Epoxy on aluminum, 64" x 71.5" x 5.5"
TOM HOLLAND
Paintings Past and Present
March 2 – April 21, 2012
Opening reception: Friday, March 2, 5:00-7:00 PM
130 Lincoln Avenue, Suite D, Santa Fe, NM 87501
p 505-983-9555 | f 505-983-1284 | www.DavidRichardContemporary.com
David Richard Contemporary is pleased to present Paintings Past and Present, a survey of paintings by TOM HOLLAND from 1960 to 2011. The exhibition will be divided into two distinct bodies of work. The early paintings from the 1960s, which culminated in the seminal grid constructions made of fiberglass that became the foundation of his subsequent work, and a wide assortment of paintings since 1970.
The 1960s proved to be a critical decade for Holland in which his work transitioned from traditional painting on a two-dimensional plane using oil paint--albeit with unconventional applications and subject matter--to more literal, three-dimensional constructions. Holland moved quickly from canvas, to wooden panels, awning canvas and ultimately, woven and painted fiberglass as his support of choice. This transitional work was largely produced in Berkeley, but first exhibited by Nick Wilder in 1965 in Los Angeles. Holland also lived in Los Angeles during the later part of the 1960s before returning to Berkeley. Holland's art was physical, multidimensional and dynamic, demanding the viewer's attention with lush surfaces, bold colors and embedded objects that could not be ignored. His paintings were captivating, thought provoking and full of life. While Holland used representational elements, they referred to nothing in particular and their atypical presentation left them open to a variety of interpretations thus, making his abstract paintings as fresh and appealing forty years later.
Since the 1970s, Holland’s painting practice has been distinct and the result of his unique combination of painting off the stretchers and on alternative supports; the use of non-illusionistic and literal additions of lattice, folds, protrusions from and undulations of the painting surface; as well as piercing the surfaces. He paints non-objective abstractions on a variety of media, including fiberglass, copper, aluminum and combinations thereof. The paintings are frequently large, measuring 40 x 60” and greater—with heights reaching 70 to 80 inches and widths as long as 120 inches. The color combinations have ranged from dark hues in the 70s, to neutrals in the 80s and dramatic jewel colors in the 90s. The scale and physicality of the work explores the tension between the illusion of painting on a two-dimensional plane and the literalness of three-dimensional sculpture, yet Holland considers everything a painting, even free-standing constructions.
Holland is represented by David Richard Contemporary in Santa Fe, NM. He has had numerous solo exhibitions at Nicholas Wilder Gallery (Los Angeles), Robert Elkon Gallery (New York), Hansen Fuller Gallery (San Francisco), Knoedler Contemporary Art (New York), Blum Hellman Gallery (New York), James Corcoran Gallery (Los Angeles), John Berggruen Gallery (San Francisco) and Charles Cowles Gallery (New York). His work is in the collections of major museums in the United States, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York), Guggenheim Museum (NY), the Whitney Museum (NY), Los Angeles County Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Brooklyn Museum (NY), Chicago Art Institute, Crocker Museum and Walker Art Center (Minneapolis). His work is also represented in numerous private collections.
David Richard Contemporary is located in downtown Santa Fe north of the historic plaza and specializes in Post-War American abstract art including Abstract Expressionism, Color Field, geometric, hard-edged, Op, Pop and Minimalism in a variety of media. Featuring both historic and contemporary artwork, the gallery represents many established mid to late-career 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.
Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM
For additional information please contact: David Eichholtz d@DavidRichardContemporary.com