New York-based artist Yigal Ozeri, who was featured in Juxtapoz Hyperreal book back in 2014, recently opened his third solo show with Amsterdam's Rutger Brandt Gallery. As introduced at Untitled Art Fair Miami, A New York Story presents a new direction in Ozeri's work that comprises of images capturing everyday life in one of the world's art capitals. By coming to Amsterdam's Rutger Brandt Gallery, Ozeri seeks to create a connection between two cities that are historically very closely-connected.
A step away from his signature motif of distinctive young women in lush natural landscapes, A New York Story views the artist's vibrant hometown as an ever-changing source of inspiration in a significant change of aesthetic that makes the new work feel that much more authentic and dynamic. Enhanced by Ozeri's impeccable painterly technique and ability to capture profound details, this coherent selection of works provides snapshots of NYC's most idiosyncratic gems.
Whether solid canners at work, stalwart city commuters, elderly denizens in the park, or firefighters on a break, the artist presents his hometown through the elements that captivate him. Avoiding the glamour, he seeks the meat markets of Chinatown, the dilapidated subway, the vacant lots of Red Hook, or the more traditionally-beloved locales of Washington Square Park and Dumbo, this series of work shows the "real" side of the world-renowned megalopolis.
Without imposing a narrative, Ozeri simply captures everyday moments with his camera and then transfers them onto a canvas. By meticulously depicting all the suggestive and sometimes dramatic lights, elements that insinuate themselves into the composition, Ozeri constructs a complex, rhythmic and layered portrait. A New York Story melds Ozeri's documentary approach of collecting reference photos along with his superb photorealist painterly technique to construct a personal ode to one of the most recognizable urban places on the planet.
Photo credit by @SashaBogojev
"A New York Story" will be on display at the Richard Brandt Gallery through June 22, 2019
