It's Halloween!

Santa Fe Pumpkin

Leo Valledor

I spent some time in Califorina last month and had a chance to see Leo Valledor's work at the Mendenhall Sobieski Gallery in Pasadena. Valledor uses a colorful pallete, not shying away from metallic paint. Painting with acrillic, Leo has a consistent matte surface contrasting with the metallic creating a sharp depth. The shaped canvas work is similar to the work of another LA artist Charles Arnoldi who according to the latest Art in America is showing at the Charlotte Jackson gallery in Santa Fe.

Morandi in New York

I was in New York a week or so ago and found some time to visit the MET and a few galleries. The Voulliard collection at the MET was impressive, the show included many Cezannes I haven't seen before, an amazing Gaughan, Van Gogh, etc. The Sean Scully show was up but I found it frustrating that Scully's work doesn't grow or change much. I also visited the Gagosian Gallery and saw a large collection of drawings and stinky insect work by Damien Hirst. The Thiebaud Gallery was showing Morandi which was the highlight of the day. Morandi is one of my favorite painters, his work is very sensitive to light and space. The paintings are abstract for still life work. The Morandi paintings are loose but nurtured with precise earth colors. The colors aren't as subtle viewed in person, the color was suprisingly rich.