Complex, compelling, and fantastical are just some of the words that could describe the shows below. Plan on making time to thoroughly take in these thought provoking and visually engaging shows, ranging from previously unseen and eminently human works by AbEx giant Cy Twombly to conceptual explorations of assimilation by Serena Chang to the politics of prettiness in the portraits of Marie Laurencin. While you’re out and about, make sure to check out some other standout shows, including Ulala Imai’s poignant exhibition Calm at Karma in Chelsea, up through February 22. —Natalie Haddad, Reviews Editor
Serena Chang: Sweet Water
Island Gallery, 83 Bowery, Lower East Side, Manhattan
Through February 15
“Chang plays with language and its translation, something that undergirds assimilationist anxieties, as we often walk a line that renders us, as immigrants, at once alien and/or familiar.” —Hrag Vartanian
Read the full review here.
Nathalie Djurberg and Hans Berg: Only for the Wicked
Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, 521 West 21st Street, Chelsea, Manhattan
Through February 21
“Djurberg and Berg may be exploring human psychology, but the specific scenarios are nothing if not a reflection of actual systemic abuses in reactionary and totalitarian governments.” —NH
Read the full review here.
Marie Laurencin: Works from 1905 to 1952
Almine Rech Gallery, 39 East 78th Street, Floor 2, Upper East Side, Manhattan
Through February 22
“Laurencin’s work is a riposte to the second-class status of female-presenting (or simply non-cis-het male) creators via the long-standing trivialization of ‘feminine’ art.” —NH
Read the full review here.
Cy Twombly
Gagosian Gallery, 980 Madison Avenue, Upper East Side, Manhattan
Through March 22
“The works in this exhibition are distinctly earthly endeavors, showcasing the human hand in all its striving.” —Lisa Yin Zhang
Read the full review here.
Nolan Oswald Dennis: overturns
Swiss Institute, 38 St. Mark’s Place, East Village, Manhattan
Through April 13
“The artist has a knack for articulating their ideas in powerful objects that both conceal and reveal their inner logics and contradictions.” —HV
Read the full review here.
