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Image of sculpture on wall made of wood pieces painted white, red and pink and a few unpainted pieces

Four Sculptors: Sarah Braman, Kenji Fujita, Roy McMakin, Richard Rezac

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Kenji Fujita, "Accumulations #6", 2016. Courtesy of the artist.

 

 

April 8–June 3, 2022

Opening: April 8, 5-7pm

Art Alliance

 

The Philadelphia Art Alliance at University of the Arts is pleased to present an exhibit of four contemporary American sculptors who reach beyond the restraints of Minimalism in a neo-constructivist manner. Each of these artists’ works are variously informed by domestic forms, additive practice and exuberant color. Reconfiguring modernism, they adapt pictorial modes that address the traditional floor and the wall sites of sculpture. There is a fluency to these structures that extends beyond familiarity and entices viewers to unravel complex references to sculptural history and meaning. 

Sarah Braman pairs translucent glass against ragged solid masses of stained wood, creating volumes suggestive of sacred spaces where sheltering interiors meet the profane materiality of vernacular experience. She has a particular color sensibility that is her signature; the purple or blue panes are almost iridescent in dichroic color and her stained wood evokes a particularly cool mood. The spatial masses are often balanced off-kilter while using alternative sculpture means such as chairs for bases or cabs of scraped vehicles for sheltering canopies. Thus, formally her work bridges post-minimalism and color-field painting while also suggesting home life and lived experience.

Kenji Fujita’s small-scale pictorial sculptures dance around in colorful arabesques, cantilever off the wall or mimic refuse bags ready for disposal. There is almost a punk casualness to Fujita’s constructions; their prominent screws revealing their process of manufacture like DIY furniture. Yet Fujita’s works seem to resonate with Frank Stella’s extravaganzas, Stuart Davis’s colonial cubism and the aggressive spatial thrusts of Di Suvero and Joel Shapiro. He punctuates several bare wood sculptures with brilliant flat color planes, a graphic punch like Calder. His works also resonate with the efforts of his father, S. Neil Fujita, the noted graphic designer, whose works gave us the Godfather movie logo and classic Columbia LP covers for Miles Davis, Charlie Mingus and Dave Brubeck. S. Neil Fujita taught at University of the Arts and previously exhibited at the Art Alliance.

All furniture is functional sculpture. Roy McMakin takes this as a given while investigating space and the questioning intersection of utility, design and philosophy. His efforts extend Duchamp’s conceptualism, the bases and benches of Brancusi and the furniture-sculptures of Scott Burton and Richard Artschwager. Some of his objects are actual assisted readymades or elements thereof: tables, chests or chairs are conscripted into service as functional sculptures or embedded within sections of larger ensembles. McMakin often creates original sculptures that could actually function as home furnishings. As such, he makes us question our assumptions and our aesthetics. He makes us slow down our perceptions in order to differentiate what is a real drawer from one that quotes the Platonic idea of one.

Perhaps the most formal of the four artists, Richard Rezac’s mirrored compositions are complex entities that beg for careful perusal. Everything is considered. His manipulated surface finishes are essential as are his refined color sensibilities. Rezac utilizes a subtle variety of materials, processes, colors and surfaces; producing physical objects while patently aware of the graphic capacity of their forms. He situates his sculptures variously: rising from the floor, mounted on the wall or suspended. By playing off cast volumes to flat images on the wall, Rezac creates site-specific installations. Thus his practice insinuates itself into the heritage of architectural ornaments and art historical references. Meaning begets meaning. But one should be aware that this is not just arch historicism nor quotations of late Minimalism. Although Rezac is able to amalgamate elements of Chicago architectural history and Italian Mannerism, playful quirks occur in his compositions, where symmetry breaks down and mirroring is inappropriately misquoted.

These four sculptors are being shown concurrently with an installation by Wilmer Wilson IV at Rosenwald Wolf Gallery of University of the Arts. 

Our exhibitions are free and open to the public.


 

Wall sculpture with blue cabinet in middle of white cube-like structure
close up of sculpture made of pink glass and wood pieces and planes
Image of four light green tables in a group
Wall sculpture with a top piece made of aluminum trimmed in wood and a bottom piece of cast bronze that looks like a statue fragment

Top: Roy McMakin, "Untitled (with cabinet"), 2016, enamel on eastern maple and plywood, found table, 33 1/2 x 54 x 36 1/2 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Garth Greenan Gallery.

Left: (top) Sarah Braman. Courtesy of the artist and Mitchell-Innes & Nash; (bottom): Roy McMakin, "Four Green Tables (one to be used in my new home, one to be sold by a gallery and used as a table in the purchaser's home, one to be acquired by an institution to be conserved in original condition, one to be donated anonymously to a thrift store)", 2016, enamel on eastern maple, 27 1/2 x 30 x 18 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Garth Greenan Gallery.

Right: Richard Rezac, "Mozart Mirror (after Loschenkohl)", 2021, two elements: cast bronze, 11.75 x 8 x 13 inches, aluminum and mahogany wood, 17.25 x 24.75 x 1.25 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Luhring Augustine Gallery.

Gallery
Installation image of two wall sculptures, one made of metal, the other plaster

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of three different wall sculptures by Richard Rezac

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of two wall sculptures on either side of a large window, one made of metal, the other plaster and wood

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Two wall sculptures on adjoining wall, one of brass and the other of metal and cast plaster

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Three sculpture works on view inside of a white room with a window; one is made of plaster/casting and metal; the second is made of metal and the third consists of metal and wall adhesives

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view with three wall metal and/or plaster sculptures in a room with fireplace and laser-cut iron doors dividing space

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of Gallery B with wall decals in-between three large windows and a hanging white grid-like sculpture in foreground

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of 4 sculptures: a yellow plaster/cast work on one wall, two separate metal works on the back wall and a green pedestal with a bronze work on floor in foreground

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

installation image with one metal wall sculpture to left and yellow cast and metal wall work to right bisected by doorway leading to grand staircase

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

installation view of room with sculptures: a green cast and metal work on floor, metal work on pedestal in mid ground, white cast work hanging from ceiling and two metal works on walls

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of gallery B with white cast sculpture hanging from ceiling in background, metal sculpture on green pedestal in left foreground, with another metal work on wall behind

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

installation view of adjoining walls with three sculptures on display: yellow cast sculpture in background, two metal compositions in right foreground

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation image of a floor sculpture oof casting and metal and a wall sculpture of bronze and other metal with fireplace in background

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation image of a white sculpture hanging from the ceiling in front of a window

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation image of several sculptures in a large white room with dark wood trim and fireplace

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation image of a bronze sculpture on a green pedestal

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation image of floor sculpture consisting of resin and metal

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view with a metal and resin sculpture in foreground and two wall sculptures of metal and stone behind

Installation view of Richard Rezac's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of artwork hanging on wall and two wood and glass sculptures no floor

Installation view of Sarah Braman's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installlation view of two artworks--a painted car door on the wall and a woood and glass sculpture on the floor

Installation view of Sarah Braman's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of a painted car door on the wall and a hollowed out log with glass cube on floor

Installation view of Sarah Braman's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view from left angle showing two floor sculptures and one work on wall

Installation view of Sarah Braman's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of a hollowed out tree stump on its side with a multicolored glass cube set on top

Installation view of Sarah Braman's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of floor sculpture composed of two different side tables and a glass multicolored box

Installation view of Sarah Braman's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation image of series of sketches on two walls with 2 rooms of six sketches to the left and two, side-by-side to the right

Installation view of Roy McMakin's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

installation view of two rows of six sketches showing different room layouts

Installation view of Roy McMakin's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

installation view of two framed sketches hanging side by side

Installation view of Roy McMakin's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of a yellow hanging cabinet, hanging white doors with gold trim and four green tables grouped together

Installation view of Roy McMakin's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view with four green tables grouped to the left, cabinet doors hanging in background and a white chest of drawers to the right

Installation view of Roy McMakin's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view with white chest of drawers to left, two framed sketches in background and a hanging blue table encased in white sculptural cube to right

Installation view of Roy McMakin's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view with two sculptures of tables and white cubes hanging no the wall and a chest of white drawers in background

Installation view of Roy McMakin's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view with white table to left, hanging yellow cabinet to right and multicolored assemblages hanging in background

Installation view of Roy McMakin's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of white table to right and two tables hanging on the wall next to one another

Installation view of Roy McMakin's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view with yellow hanging cabinet in background, four green tables grouped together in center and white hanging doors in right foreground

Installation view of Roy McMakin's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of three brightly colored assemblages hanging in a row on the wall

Installation view of Kenji Fujita's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of six brightly colored flat assemblage works hanging in two rows on the wall with one other assemblage work on the right

Installation view of Kenji Fujita's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of six brightly colored flat assemblage wall sculptures,  in two rows

Installation view of Kenji Fujita's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation of two wall sculptures hanging side by side consisting of wood arranged in y or sun shape

Installation view of Kenji Fujita's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation image of wood sculpture hanging on wall with pieces angled in different directions

Installation view of Kenji Fujita's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view with a wall of flater wood sculptures to the left and a wall of assembled 3D wood sculptures to the right

Installation view of Kenji Fujita's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of three wood and raised sculptures hanging on the wall, one to the left and two to the right

Installation view of Kenji Fujita's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of wall with raised wood sculptures hanging in a row across it

Installation view of Kenji Fujita's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of four colorful sculptures composing of found materials  lined up in a row on the floor

Installation view of Kenji Fujita's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of two wooden scultptures on the wall to the left and a record cover hanging to the right

Installation view of Kenji Fujita's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation view of four floor sculptures to the left and six colorful flat wood sculptures on the back wall to the right

Installation view of Kenji Fujita's work. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Installation image of two wall sculptures, one made of metal, the other plaster
Installation view of three different wall sculptures by Richard Rezac
Installation view of two wall sculptures on either side of a large window, one made of metal, the other plaster and wood
Two wall sculptures on adjoining wall, one of brass and the other of metal and cast plaster
Three sculpture works on view inside of a white room with a window; one is made of plaster/casting and metal; the second is made of metal and the third consists of metal and wall adhesives
Installation view with three wall metal and/or plaster sculptures in a room with fireplace and laser-cut iron doors dividing space
Installation view of Gallery B with wall decals in-between three large windows and a hanging white grid-like sculpture in foreground
Installation view of 4 sculptures: a yellow plaster/cast work on one wall, two separate metal works on the back wall and a green pedestal with a bronze work on floor in foreground
installation image with one metal wall sculpture to left and yellow cast and metal wall work to right bisected by doorway leading to grand staircase
installation view of room with sculptures: a green cast and metal work on floor, metal work on pedestal in mid ground, white cast work hanging from ceiling and two metal works on walls
Installation view of gallery B with white cast sculpture hanging from ceiling in background, metal sculpture on green pedestal in left foreground, with another metal work on wall behind
installation view of adjoining walls with three sculptures on display: yellow cast sculpture in background, two metal compositions in right foreground
Installation image of a floor sculpture oof casting and metal and a wall sculpture of bronze and other metal with fireplace in background
Installation image of a white sculpture hanging from the ceiling in front of a window
Installation image of several sculptures in a large white room with dark wood trim and fireplace
Installation image of a bronze sculpture on a green pedestal
Installation image of floor sculpture consisting of resin and metal
Installation view with a metal and resin sculpture in foreground and two wall sculptures of metal and stone behind
Installation view of artwork hanging on wall and two wood and glass sculptures no floor
Installlation view of two artworks--a painted car door on the wall and a woood and glass sculpture on the floor
Installation view of a painted car door on the wall and a hollowed out log with glass cube on floor
Installation view from left angle showing two floor sculptures and one work on wall
Installation view of a hollowed out tree stump on its side with a multicolored glass cube set on top
Installation view of floor sculpture composed of two different side tables and a glass multicolored box
Installation image of series of sketches on two walls with 2 rooms of six sketches to the left and two, side-by-side to the right
installation view of two rows of six sketches showing different room layouts
installation view of two framed sketches hanging side by side
Installation view of a yellow hanging cabinet, hanging white doors with gold trim and four green tables grouped together
Installation view with four green tables grouped to the left, cabinet doors hanging in background and a white chest of drawers to the right
Installation view with white chest of drawers to left, two framed sketches in background and a hanging blue table encased in white sculptural cube to right
Installation view with two sculptures of tables and white cubes hanging no the wall and a chest of white drawers in background
Installation view with white table to left, hanging yellow cabinet to right and multicolored assemblages hanging in background
Installation view of white table to right and two tables hanging on the wall next to one another
Installation view with yellow hanging cabinet in background, four green tables grouped together in center and white hanging doors in right foreground
Installation view of three brightly colored assemblages hanging in a row on the wall
Installation view of six brightly colored flat assemblage works hanging in two rows on the wall with one other assemblage work on the right
Installation view of six brightly colored flat assemblage wall sculptures,  in two rows
Installation of two wall sculptures hanging side by side consisting of wood arranged in y or sun shape
Installation image of wood sculpture hanging on wall with pieces angled in different directions
Installation view with a wall of flater wood sculptures to the left and a wall of assembled 3D wood sculptures to the right
Installation view of three wood and raised sculptures hanging on the wall, one to the left and two to the right
Installation view of wall with raised wood sculptures hanging in a row across it
Installation view of four colorful sculptures composing of found materials  lined up in a row on the floor
Installation view of two wooden scultptures on the wall to the left and a record cover hanging to the right
Installation view of four floor sculptures to the left and six colorful flat wood sculptures on the back wall to the right

About the Artists

 

Sarah Braman was born in 1970 in Tonawanda, New York and currently lives and works between New York and Amherst, MA. Braman received a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and an MFA from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia.  Braman is one of the founders of New York’s artist-run gallery CANADA and is represented by Mitchell Innes and Nash Gallery. 

Kenji Fujita has been making and showing work for over 30 years. He was born in New York City and lives in Staatsburg, NY. Fujita has shown widely and teaches sculpture at Bard College.

Roy McMakin was born in Lander, Wyoming in 1956. McMakin is a San Diego-based artist, designer, furniture maker, and architect. He received his MFA from the University of California, San Diego in 1982. McMakin is represented by Garth Greenan Gallery.  

Richard Rezac was born in 1952 and lives and works in Chicago. His work is in the permanent collections of The Art Institute of Chicago, Dallas Museum of Art, TX and Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT, among others. Rezac is represented in New York by Luhring Augustine Gallery.   

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