Broad Strokes
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN PAINTING right now? That's the question co-curators Margaret Andera and Michelle Grabner address with the Milwaukee Art Museum's landmark survey exhibition “50 Paintings,” a collection of works by 50 contemporary artists from around the world.
“The idea of the survey is to move from the storytelling of who the artists are to [instead] tell the story of painting,” Grabner says. “The reason why painting is so absolutely diverse right now … is that it reflects the culture we're living in.”
The paintings were all created within the last five years and range from world-renowned artists at the top of their game to rising stars in the medium. “It's a moment when, in a way, everything goes, which can make people, curators and critics a little uncomfortable, because there isn't this one thing to be looking for,” Andera says. “But our premise for the exhibition is [that's what makes] it exciting.”
The collection has an eightmonth run from Nov. 17-June 23. Andera recommends taking advantage of this “gloriously long” showcase by making multiple visits. And she highly recommends paying a visit to “Art, Life, Legacy: Northern European Paintings in the Collection of Isabel and Alfred Bader,” on view Sept. 29-Jan. 28. This show adds a historical perspective to the contemporary exhibition.
“I think that's going to be a really nice moment to show the continuity of the medium,” Andera says. “Part of the assessment can be: What's changed over the centuries? And what hasn't?” mam.org