Erwin Olaf — “Berlin” — New York, NY
Contemporary photography is going strong at the moment, and Erwin Olaf’s “Berlin” photo series is one of the most exciting openings this week. Always thought-provoking and with an eerie sense of realism and honesty, his images remain in your mind’s eye far after you have removed your gaze. The subjects in this show often have their eyes adjusted just slightly away from the camera so one is always left asking those broad, circular questions that great photography brings up, “What happened in the photo before this shot?” and “What happened in this shot’s aftermath?”
Hasted Kraetler Gallery
March 14 – April 27, 2013
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 14, 2013 6-8pm

James Turrell — “Roden Crater and Autonomous Structures” — New York, NY
Within minutes, a meteor descended on Russia shattering every glass window for miles. A few months earlier, NYC was almost washed into the sea by a hurricane over a long weekend. The Earth is fragile and James Turrell’s exhibition opening this Thursday, a meditation on the intersection of visual culture, mother nature and human nature, is cutting edge, relevant and right on time. In one of the most ambitious endeavors taken on by an artist in history, Turrell has been converting a 400,000 crater in Arizona into an observatory from which patrons can view solar, lunar, and multiple celestial phenomena with the naked eye. Incredible.
Pace Gallery New York
March 15 – April 20, 2013
Opening Reception: Thursday March 14, 2013 6-8pm

Fabiola Torres-Alzaga – “House of Games” – Los Angeles, CA
Steve Turner Contemporary gallery is presenting a solo exhibition of new work by Fabiola Torres-Alzaga and, for our Los Angeles readers, this is definitely something to look forward to. Torres-Alzaga has a knack for creating visuals that are never exactly what they seem. In this show she uses the 19th century magician’s trade as a seductive theme in her work. With mysterious mirrors, playing cards, dark wood, and antique glass cases there is a thread of supernatural intrigue woven throughout.
Steve Turner Contemporary
March 15 – April 20, 2013
Opening Reception: Friday March 15, 2013 7-9pm

Spencer Sweeney – “Berlin Paintings” – Berlin, Germany
Spencer Sweeney just has it all together. He is a renowned artist, DJ, club owner, and the physical manifestation of everything cool that happens on any given night below 14th street in New York City. Now, of course, he is presenting a series of his paintings at one of the most current “downtown” galleries in Berlin. This is after he has already done 3 solo shows at one of my favorite top-notch downtown galleries, Gavin Brown, in NYC. Ok we get it Spencer, you are the coolest!
Veneklasen Werner Gallery
March 16 – April 20, 2013
Opening: Saturday March 16, 2013

Hong Hao – “Hong Hao” – Beijing, China
As a follow-up to our profile of Beijing based artist Liu Wei presenting in NYC last week, Pace Gallery is having an opening for the work of Hong Hao at their Beijing location. Hao’s newest work is an interesting combination of found objects and text-based work, painting, and video. A real gem is a piece called, “As It Is – The Writings of a Hundred” in which he creates a collage in varying shades of white by collecting various paper pieces from his everyday life, letters typed and handwritten, receipts, cards, and the like. The concept is simple, nostalgic and elegant.
Pace Gallery Beijing
March 16 – April 27, 2013
Opening: Saturday March 16, 2013

TAGS: art, art weekly, CULTURE, exhibitions, openings