Despite his much-publicised retirement in 2012, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan has far from disappeared. There are several quirky collaborations on the go, like the artzine ToiletPaper, created with photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari. And now the provocateur is back in the gallery spotlight, thanks to 'Cosa Nostra', a selling show of the artist's work newly opened in New York. Displayed at two locations - the Upper East Side galleries Venus Over Manhattan and Sotheby's S|2 - the works were gathered from private collections, with prices expected to start at $30,000 and soar to $2 million.
Touted as the largest and most comprehensive showing of the artist's work since his Guggenheim retrospective in 2011, 'Cosa Nostra' showcases many of Cattelan's most memorable pieces. There are animal-centric creations, like the 'Untitled' sitting cow with motorcross handles for horns, and the Italian pavilion-inspired 'Turisti' (1997), which sees taxidermy pigeons scattered throughout the gallery. The more scandalous sculptures pose likenesses of JFK, Hitler and the Pope in all sorts of controversial situations. Both venues offer a rare chance to catch Cattelan's famous works in the flesh.
Venus Over Manhattan has created a suspenseful environment inspired by Marcel Duchamp's 'Door, 11 rue Larrey' to present its pieces. The space is split into seven rooms, with dark-painted walls creating mysterious chambers, each containing a single piece. The works are visible through portholes, windows and keyholes set within different wooden doors, heightening the sense of drama already palpable in the works. By contrast the collection at S|2 is presented in a room lined with mirrors that magnify the twisted, surreal nature of Cattelan's oeuvre.
To cap things off, visitors can see the trailer for the documentary Maurizio Cattelan: The Movie, 15 years in the making. Directed by Maura Axelrod, who has been filming Cattelan since 2000, the intimate portrait of the artist features interviews with close family and friends and exclusive archival footage - and sheds light on the personal origins of Cattelan's many themes. The film is scheduled for release in the summer of 2015.
The space is split into seven rooms, with dark-painted walls creating mysterious chambers, each containing a single piece. Pictured is 'Now', 2004
The works are visible through portholes, windows and keyholes set within different wooden doors, heightening the sense of drama already palpable in the works
'Frank and Jamie', 2002
'Jean-Pierre', 1999
By contrast the collection at Sotheby's S|2 gallery is presented in a room lined with mirrors that magnify the twisted, surreal nature of Cattelan's oeuvre
There are animal-centric creations, like the 'Untitled' sitting cow (pictured) with motorcross handles for horns, and the Italian pavilion-inspired 'Turisti' (1997), which sees taxidermy pigeons scattered throughout the gallery
Touted as the largest and most comprehensive showing of the artist's work since his Guggenheim retrospective in 2011, 'Cosa Nostra' showcases many of Cattelan's most memorable pieces such as 'Untitled', 2007 (left) and 'Ave Maria', 2007 (right)
'Hollywood', 2001 (background) and 'La Nona Ora', 2003 (on table in foreground)
Both venues offer a rare chance to catch Cattelan's famous works in the flesh
3876498296001
Watch the trailer for the upcoming documentary: The Movie, an intimate portrait of the artist features interviews with close family and friends and exclusive archival footage
ADDRESS
Venus Over Manhattan
980 Madison Avenue
3rd Floor
New York
-
Venerable British car-maker AC goes OTT with the high-output, low-slung AC GT SuperSportPitched at all-American fans of the original AC Cobra, the GT SuperSport is a fearsome two-seat roadster with more muscle than ever before
-
The dynamic young gallerists reinvigorating America's art scene'Hugging has replaced air kissing' in this new wave of galleries with craft and community at their core
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekWhile a few of our editors were in Europe for various showcases and launches, others stayed local, uncovering new cuisines, eccentric exhibitions and glorious gardens this side of the Channel
-
The dynamic young gallerists reinvigorating America's art scene
'Hugging has replaced air kissing' in this new wave of galleries with craft and community at their core
-
Meet the New York-based artists destabilising the boundaries of societyA new show in London presents seven young New York-based artists who are pushing against the borders between refined aesthetics and primal materiality
-
‘Her pictures looked like pictures everybody knew were the truth’: Diane Arbus at the ArmoryMatthieu Humery curates more than 400 of Arbus’ photographs at New York’s Park Avenue Armory – every picture she was known to have printed
-
Mystic, feminine and erotic: the power of Penny Slinger’s bodies as landscapeArtist Penny Slinger continues her exploration of the sacred, surreal feminine in a Santa Monica exhibition, ‘Meeting at the Horizon’
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt was a jam-packed week for the Wallpaper* staff, entailing furniture, tech and music launches and lots of good food – from afternoon tea to omakase
-
Out of office: what the Wallpaper* editors have been up to this weekThis week saw the Wallpaper* team jet-setting to Jordan and New York; those of us left in London had to make do with being transported via the power of music at rooftop bars, live sets and hologram performances
-
Photographer Geordie Wood takes a leap of faith with first film, DiversGeordie Wood delved into the world of professional diving in Fort Lauderdale for his first film
-
New book celebrates 100 years of New York City landmarks where LGBTQ+ history took placeMarc Zinaman’s ‘Queer Happened Here: 100 Years of NYC’s Landmark LGBTQ+ Places’ is a vital tribute to queer culture
