Dexter Dalwood

Gagosian Gallery is pleased to announce British artist Dexter Dalwood’s first solo exhibition in New York. In this new series of paintings, Dalwood draws upon the viewer’s knowledge of popular culture and political history, depicting fictional scenes that feel vaguely familiar because the people or events that they reference are ingrained in the public’s consciousness. The artist continues his exploration of unpopulated interiors, but here he focuses on the private lives of very public personas, obliquely portrayed through their imagined surroundings. Dalwood canvases a broad spectrum of personalities, including literary figures William Burroughs, Truman Capote, and Oscar Wilde; socialites Claus and Sunny von Bulow; and the elegant fashion icon, Diana Vreeland. He also recalls history painting with epic works such as the Bay of Pigs and Birth of the U.N. Merging real history with art history, Dalwood characteristically employs painterly elements or devices appropriated from celebrated twentieth-century artists, including Francis Bacon, Edward Hopper and Willem de Kooning.

This exhibition follows Dalwood’s solo shows at Gagosian in London (2000) and Beverly Hills (2002). The artist has exhibited throughout Europe, with his participation including “New Blood,” Saatchi Gallery, London, 2004; “Days Like These, Tate Triennial Exhibition of Contemporary British Art,” Tate Britain, 2003; “Remix: Contemporary Art and Pop,” Tate Liverpool, 2002, and the Sydney Biennial, 2002. Born in Bristol, England, in 1960, Dalwood studied at St. Martins School of Art before earning his MFA at the Royal College of Art. He currently lives and works in London.

A fully illustrated catalogue featuring an essay by Tom Morton will accompany the exhibition. Pressetext

Dexter Dalwood