Volume Number 1 Issue Number 4 | October 20 - 26, 2006
Chelsea Arts & Lifestyles: Fine Arts
Talking Shop with Kathryn Markel Fine Art
Courtesy of Kathryn Markel Fine Art
Julian Jackson, “Vermeer Study (detail),” 20x36, oil on panel
By Shane McAdams
Longtime gallerist Kathryn Markel has a page on her website entitled, “Ask the Art Lady.” “The Art Lady,” as you might guess, is her alter ego, and one that compliments her outlook as a dealer very well. While Markel has been in the trenches of the contemporary art world for more than 30 years, starting with a gallery on 57th Street and now in the 529 Arts building in Chelsea, she has always approached selling from a teacher’s perspective. She believes that building good personal relationships with both artists and clients makes for lasting relationships.
It’s rare to go into a Chelsea art gallery these days and not feel a certain prevailing smugness in the air, or at least feel a little unsettled by the incoming gazes from teams of slick and hip art world gatekeepers behind imposing desks and 20” iMac screens. Entering Markel’s gallery involves nothing of the sort. In fact, the only gatekeeper will be LuLu, a shin-high dog that will drop its toy at your feet looking to play. Markel specializes in works on paper and smaller paintings that allow her to keep prices reasonable and attract young buyers. She maintains that the best way to accomplish this is to keep her gallery feeling hospitable and approachable. On this, her 30th year in the business, no one is arguing with her strategy.
I spoke with Ms. Markel this past week to see what was on her mind in and around the Chelsea art world.
Julian Jackson
Julian is one of our more recently acquired artists, but he’s been a denizen in the New York art world for quite a while. His show last spring was a resounding success by all accounts. Because of the soft-focus, geometric imagery and his perfect color sensibility, almost everyone is immediately taken by his work. It’s easy to like, and it’s very well produced. It’s just really sexy and collectors love to be in their presence. And, although I am happy to educate collectors about any piece of artwork, it’s still always better when the art can speak for itself.
Nick Cave at Jack Shainman
I looove the Nick Cave show at Jack Shainman. I think his work is socially provocative in how it deals with identity through ceremonial garments, but it is also materially wonderful. There are both imposing and playful. As sculptures, their color and the humor take precedence, but as figures they come across as trapped and anonymous. I think it’s an interesting dichotomy.
Roz Chast at Julie Saul Gallery
I was also recently taken by a show of artist Roz Chast’s. I showed her work in the ‘80s and she has a new exhibition at Julie Saul. She’s a cartoonist and illustrator whose work has regularly appeared in the New Yorker and other magazines over the past three decades…It’s inventive and funny, and I’ve always liked work that you can appreciate on these levels.
Judith Murray at Sundaramtagore
Judith Murray at Sundaramtagore — looove those paintings (I showed her too in the early 80’s.) Their new space on 27th Street is really spectacular and I’m happy to have them here in Chelsea even if its seven blocks away.
The Pier Behind Basketball City
I love the pier behind basketball city. When I need a break and the weather’s nice, it’s only a block away. New Yorkers have always had kind of an apathetic relationship with their waterfront. They don’t get seem to get that excited over what is really a great advantage to living on an island. Being so close, I head over there to decompress. Sometimes I head over to the brewery or just walk along the water at lunch.
Trine Bumiller
There’s a show of my own opening in November that I’m really excited about: Trine Bumiller. He’s an artist from Denver, Colorado who we’ve shown before, but I really think he’s been pushing it lately. [His paintings] are technically rigorous, but wonderfully rich impressions of nature. I think New York artists sometimes forget that there is a “nature” out there beyond the city limits, so we sometimes have to leave the sprawl ourselves to find artists.
Kathryn Markel Fine Art is at 529 West 20th Street, 6th floor, 212-366-5368, www.markelfinearts.com.
