Gagosian to unveil exhibition celebrating contemporary abstract paintings

Coinciding with London Gallery Weekend, Gagosian will showcase an exhibition dedicated to contemporary abstract painting, featuring works by over 40 artists.

Image: Jadé Fadojutimi. And willingly imprinting the memory of my mistakes, 2023. © Jadé Fadojutimi. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and Gagosian

Gagosian is set to present To Bend the Ear of the Outer World: Conversations on contemporary abstract painting, a groundbreaking exhibition showcasing new and recent works by over forty artists from the Americas, United Kingdom, and Germany. Curated by Gary Garrels, this exhibition marks Gagosian's first-ever show across its two galleries in Mayfair, located at Grosvenor Hill and Davies Street. By exploring the significance of abstract painting today, the exhibition brings together diverse approaches from three generations of artists, including some never before shown by Gagosian. Artists such as Jadé Fadojutimi, Suzan Frecon, Katharina Grosse Mark Bradford, Helen Marden, Gerhard Richter, and Christopher Wool, among others, participate in this extraordinary display.

Image: Charline Von Heyl, Circus, 2022. © Charline von Heyl. Photo: Jason Mandella. Courtesy the artist and Petzel, New York

To Bend the Ear of the Outer World follows in the footsteps of Oranges and Sardines, an abstract painting exhibition organised by Garrels at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles in 2008-2009. The titles of both exhibitions draw inspiration from verses by Frank O'Hara. Through a thoughtfully curated installation, this exhibition surveys contemporary abstract painting, celebrating the individuality of each artwork and artist while encouraging viewers to discover connections between them. Garrels, deeply engaged with artists' perspectives, acknowledges the unique intensity and criticality with which artists examine art. Their ongoing conversations on abstraction drive them to push boundaries, unified by expressive subjectivity and an openness to innovation in nonrepresentational art. The exhibition's diverse and vibrant collection of works testifies to the enduring relevance of abstract painting.

Date: 1 June - 25 August 2023 Location: 20 Grosvenor Hill and 17–19 Davies Street, London. Price: Free. Website: gagosian.com

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