Scott Olson
29 Jun - 02 Aug 2008
SCOTT OLSON
June 29th – August 2nd, 2008
Opening reception: Sunday, June 29th, 6-8pm
Overduin and Kite presents an exhibition of new paintings by Scott Olson. This will be the artist's first exhibition in Los Angeles.
Olson's interests point toward a formalism that appears historical, familiar, and almost conservative in terms of painting, yet his works elude becoming overly nostalgic. Olson utilizes traditional materials and techniques but disrupts them at some point, layering these processes one on top of the other so that at times they cancel each other out. In some instances, Olson allows chance to determine parts of the compositions. While Olson's work is studied, he does not give over to a complete conceptualism. The paintings function as theoretical objects as well as platforms for painterly improvisation.
In a review of Olson's first solo exhibition in New York, Roberta Smith writes, "[Olson's paintings] evoke manuscript illumination filtered through Constructivism and other abstract styles. His colors have a slightly watered-down, retroactive subtlety; frequently they are translucent, to reveal the complex decisions and elaborate processes packed into each work.
Different physical supports (canvas, fiberboard, heavily gessoed wood) further complicate Mr. Olson’s processes. ...Taping and retaping have left shards of sharp color that stand out like little ruins against absorbent grays and blacks. ...The forms are laid on in thin glazes with fine, varied textures, creating echo chambers of form that suggest faceted jewels, flattened out. Mr. Olson clearly wants to make paintings whose smallness doesn’t rule out finding something new each time you look."
Smith, Roberta. "Is Painting Small the Next Big Thing?" The New York Times, April 19th,
pp. B7 and B11. ill.
Scott Olson received an MFA this year from Ohio State University in Columbus. Olson's first solo exhibition in New York was presented earlier this year by Taxter and Spengemann.
June 29th – August 2nd, 2008
Opening reception: Sunday, June 29th, 6-8pm
Overduin and Kite presents an exhibition of new paintings by Scott Olson. This will be the artist's first exhibition in Los Angeles.
Olson's interests point toward a formalism that appears historical, familiar, and almost conservative in terms of painting, yet his works elude becoming overly nostalgic. Olson utilizes traditional materials and techniques but disrupts them at some point, layering these processes one on top of the other so that at times they cancel each other out. In some instances, Olson allows chance to determine parts of the compositions. While Olson's work is studied, he does not give over to a complete conceptualism. The paintings function as theoretical objects as well as platforms for painterly improvisation.
In a review of Olson's first solo exhibition in New York, Roberta Smith writes, "[Olson's paintings] evoke manuscript illumination filtered through Constructivism and other abstract styles. His colors have a slightly watered-down, retroactive subtlety; frequently they are translucent, to reveal the complex decisions and elaborate processes packed into each work.
Different physical supports (canvas, fiberboard, heavily gessoed wood) further complicate Mr. Olson’s processes. ...Taping and retaping have left shards of sharp color that stand out like little ruins against absorbent grays and blacks. ...The forms are laid on in thin glazes with fine, varied textures, creating echo chambers of form that suggest faceted jewels, flattened out. Mr. Olson clearly wants to make paintings whose smallness doesn’t rule out finding something new each time you look."
Smith, Roberta. "Is Painting Small the Next Big Thing?" The New York Times, April 19th,
pp. B7 and B11. ill.
Scott Olson received an MFA this year from Ohio State University in Columbus. Olson's first solo exhibition in New York was presented earlier this year by Taxter and Spengemann.