We had the pleasure of attending the opening reception of the San Francisco born and raised artist Barry McGee. This is the artist’s first solo show with Cheim & Read Gallery and also his first show in NYC in 8 years.

The multi-layered compositions that McGee builds on-site are visually stimulating, brightly-colored, and its multiplicity meld together to create an unrepeatable identity. His drawings, paintings and sculptures are the eco of the urban culture, with central characters that dominate abstracted backgrounds of Op Art inspired patterns and serial images that carry an individual narrative.

McGee’s show addresses issues of identity, consumerist culture, mark-making, and commercialism. We highly recommend his exhibition that will be open to the public until October 26th, 2013.

All photography and text by Varenka Ruiz