Nola Zirin Bio
Assembling Chaos,
an exhibition of new geometric abstractions by painter Nola Zirin,
reflecting the artist’s cleverness with depiction of energy, chaos,
as well as perception of resonance, will open at the June Kelly
Gallery, 166 Mercer on Friday, May 13. The exhibition will
remain on view through June 14, 2022.
Art writer Paul Laster
points out that in this body of work, Zirin presents abstract
paintings spanning the past two years during the pandemic.
“One of the earliest paintings in the show, Syncopation
(2019), picks up from where her 2017 show at the gallery, Orbs
and Angles, left off. The layered, spray-painted orbs are
here—repeated to create a rhythm that flows across the shifting
picture plane like car headlights on a heavily trafficked street—but
the angles are now straight vertical lines, à la Barnett Newman’s
stripes, that flow through thickly and thinly brushed fields of
vibrant colors.”
Fearless vision of scale
and ideas reflect continuous seminal endless experiment-tation that
informs and motivates Zirin’s painterly process. Laster writes,
every work Zirin creates informs the next one. She does not
work from drawings or sketches; she just begins by working directly
on the surface of the painting, be it on canvas or wood. An
action provokes a reaction, as Zirin spontaneously builds up her
picture plane. Stenciled shapes are spray-painted over
brushwork; selective taping defines hard-edged forms: and sanding
softens colors while characterizing contrasting surfaces.
Zirin puts panels together
at different depths to construct sculptural structures and then
thoughtfully merges mediums and marks to make a rousing range of
persuasive pictures.
Zirin’s two most recent
paintings make further leaps forward. The joined-triptych
Assembling Chaos (2022), which is painted on two canvases and a
wood panel, conveys the darkness of the pandemic on the densely
layered left side of the abstraction, while the right side suggests
a brighter, more hopeful transformation through still shadowy yet
much lighter—and airier—tinted fields and forms.
Zirin’s unique style of
abstraction has rarely lacked a representational reference, such as
the bright hues, hard-edged architecture, and glistening lights of
the city, which forcibly turned her work from its biomorphic
beginnings to the syncopated rhythms it now dynamically transmits.
Laster writes, Nola Zirin studied with the distinguished American
postwar artists Milton Resnick and George Ortman. The
atmosphere of the city—with its endless energy, chaos, traffic,
soaring skyscrapers and sounds—has been a source of inspiration to
the artist’s jazzy abstractions for as long as she can remember.
Zirin is a native of New
York City. She received a bachelor's degree from New York
University and studied printmaking with Robert Blackburn at the
Printmaking Workshop in Manhattan. Zirin’s work has been shown
in many one-person and group exhibitions throughout the United
States and abroad. She is represented in numerous public and
corporate collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and
The Museum of Modern Art, New York, The Brooklyn Museum, New York,
Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY, The Islip Art Museum, Jane
Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, New Jersey, The
National Museum of Taiwan, The Library of Congress, Washington, DC,
Bank of Tokyo, AT&T Corporation, IBM Corporation, Reader's Digest
Corporation, and PepsiCo Corporation.
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Born New York City
Lives and works in New York |
Education |
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1987-1988 |
School of Visual Arts - "Painting in New York" |
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1978-1982 |
Master Printmaker, Donn Steward, Huntington, NY |
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1975-1977 |
Printmaking Workshop, New York |
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1962-1965 |
BS, New York University, New York |
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1961-1962 |
Boston University, Department of Fine Arts, Boston, MA |
Solo Exhibitions |
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2022 |
Assembling Chaos:
Recent Paintings, June Kelly Gallery, New York |
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2018 |
Nola Zirin, Art
Dealers Association of America, Art Show, Park Avenue Armory,
June Kelly
Gallery, New York
Power Through Color, two-person exhibit, Serena Bocchino and Nola
Zirin, the John Cacciola
Gallery W, Bernardsville NJ |
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2017 |
Orbs and Angles,
June Kelly Gallery, New York |
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2015 |
Nola Zirin: Recent
Paintings, Simon Gallery, Morristown, NJ |
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2013 |
Stardust: New
Paintings, June Kelly Gallery, New York |
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2012 |
Nola Zirin, Lobby
Gallery Show, curated by Dawn Lee, 780 3rd Avenue, New York |
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2010 |
Recent Paintings and
Works on Paper, Simon Gallery, Morristown, NJ |
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2009 |
Virtual Vistas: Paintings and Drawings, essay by Jill Conner,
June Kelly Gallery, New York |
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2007 |
New
Paintings, Simon Gallery, Morristown, NJ |
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2006 |
Recent Paintings, June Kelly Gallery, New York |
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2005 |
Nola Zirin: Recent
Paintings, Simon Gallery, Morristown, New Jersey
Collection Insights: Nola Zirin, curated by Nada Makdisi, The
Permanent Collection,
Islip Art Museum, East Islip, NY |
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2003 |
Nola Zirin: Seeing the
Light, June Kelly Gallery, New York
Nola Zirin: Seeing the Light, Simon Gallery, Morristown, NJ |
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2000 |
New Paintings: Urban
Abstraction, June Kelly Gallery, New York; catalogue |
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1997 |
Recent Paintings,
June Kelly Gallery, New York
Recent Work, Heckscher Museum of Art at Bryant Library, Roslyn, NY |
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1994 |
Paintings, June
Kelly Gallery, New York |
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1991 |
Paintings
& Assemblage, June Kelly Gallery, New York |
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1988 |
Paintings:
The Ledger Series, Anthony Giordano Gallery, Dowling College,
Oakdale, NY |
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1987 |
Long
Island Artists Exhibit, Nassau Museum of Fine Art, Roslyn, NY
Paintings & Works on Paper, Atlantic Gallery, New York |
Selected Group Exhibitions |
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2021-2022 |
The Magic Show,
Metaphor Projects, Brooklyn, NY |
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2020 |
Blurring Boundaries: The
Women of America Abstract artists, 1936-Present, South bend
Museum of Art, Warner Gallery, IN |
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2019 |
Continuity to Change:
Recent History of American Abstraction, Tower Fine Arts Gallery,
The College at Brockport SUNY, NY |
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2018 |
Blurring Boundaries:
The Women of American Abstract Artists, 1936-Present, curator, Rebecca
Digeovanna, Clara M Eagle Gallery, Murray
Kentucky
Blurring Boundaries: The Women of American Abstract Artists,
1936-Present, curator, Rebecca
Digeovanna, Ewing Gallery University of
Tennessee, Knoxville Tennessee
Celestial Mechanics, curated by Lara Pan, Harlem Confidential
Townhouse, New York |
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2017 |
Celebrating 30 Years,
Gallery Artists: Drawings and Photographs, June Kelly Gallery, New York
Sculpture
Dimensions-Sino-American Art Exchange Exhibition, curated by Richard
Vine,
Lily Zhang Candler, Wang Chunchen, organized by
Taoxichuang Art Museum of China
Central Academy of Fine Art Sculpture
Department of China Central Academy of Fine Art
Gurah, New York, Taoxichuan Creativity
Square, Jingdezheng, China |
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2016 |
Pop Austin
International Art Show, curated by Lana Carlson
Visible Sensible Histories: American Abstract Artists, curated by Max
Weintraub, Abrons Art
Center and Morris-Warren Gallery, New York,
January 27 – February 21
The Onward of Art: American Abstract Artists, 80th Anniversary Exhibition,
organized by
American Abstract Artists and curated by
Karen Wilkin, UBS, January 18 - March 25
You Go Girls! Celebrating Woman Artists, Heckscher Museum of Art,
Huntington, NY
Chromatic Space, curated by Jonathan Lippincott, Shirley Fiterman Art
Center at BMCC,
New York |
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2015 |
Crossing the Line:
Drawings, Paintings and Sculpture, Mark Alsterlind, Norman Lewis, Elie
Nadelman, Sky Pape, Rebecca Welz and Nola
Zirin, June Kelly Gallery
Fem-Us, Rite Gallery, Huntington, NY
Sensory Impact, Morgan Stanley International headquarters, Purchase,
NY |
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2014 |
A Tribute to Leo,
American Abstract Artists, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY |
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2013-14 |
American Abstract
Artists: AAA75th Anniversary Print Portfolio, Sarah Moody Gallery
of Art,
The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa |
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2013 |
American Abstract Artists: A Selection, curated by Scott Olson and
Gianna Commito, School of
Art Gallery, Kent State University, Kent,
OH
Dynamic Invention: American Abstract Artists at 75, Brattleboro
Museum and Art Center, VT |
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2012 |
American Abstract
Artists: “Paris Concret,” Paris France |
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2011 |
Action Abstraction,
Mark Gallery, Engelwood, NJ
American Abstract
Artists: 75th Anniversary, OK Harris, New York
Splendor of Dynamic Structure: Celebrating 75 Years of the American
Abstract Artists, Herbert F.
Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University,
Ithaca, NY; catalogue
The American Abstract Artists, featuring work from the museum’s
permanent collection by
members of the AAA and prints from the
American Abstract Artists’ 60th Anniversary
Print Portfolio, Wichita. KS |
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2010 |
Core & Mantle,
curated by Jill Conner, M55Art, Long Island City, NY
American Abstract Artists International, organized by Marthe Keller,
curated by Don Voisine,
Aragonese Castle of Otranto, Italy
Past and Present, curated by Andre Martinez, Henry Gregg Gallery,
Brooklyn, NY
Alpan Gallery, curated by Nese Alpan, Alpan Gallery, Huntington, NY |
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2009 |
Hidden Gems: Works
on Paper, June Kelly Gallery, New York
Pure Paint, Henry Gregg Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Stayin’ Alive, Metaphor Gallery, Brooklyn, NY |
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2008 |
American Abstract
Artists: Tribute to Esphyr Slobodkina, The Painting Center,
New York
Conversations in paint, curated by Carol Jay, Jeanie Tengelsen
Gallery, Art League of Long
Island, Dix Hills, NY |
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2007 |
Contemporary Constructs, Gallery North, Setauket, NY
Sacred Ways, Tria Gallery, New York
Jump: paintings and sculpture exhibition, Henry Gregg Gallery,
Brooklyn, NYContinuum: In
Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the American AbstractArtists,
St. Peter’s
College Art Gallery, Jersey
City, NJ |
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2006 |
On Display,
curated by Joyce Glidden, Dumbo Arts Center, Brooklyn, NY |
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2005 |
SHOOT: Unorthodox
Photographic Imagery and Applications, curated by Carole Jay,
Jeanie
Tengelsen Gallery, Art League of
Long Island, Dix Hills, NY |
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2005 |
When Brooklyn Artists Speak, Art Listens, curated by Leon Nicholas
Kalas, East 240 Gallery,
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Optical Simulations: American Abstract Artists, curated by Jill
Conner, Yellow Bird Gallery,
Newburgh, NY
Ideal: selections from the american abstract artists, curated by Rene
Lynch, metaphor
contemporary
art, Brooklyn, NY
Pure Paint, Henry Gregg Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Abstraction at 40, Gallery North Setauket, NY
10 Artists: Defining Abstraction, organized by
the June Kelly, Pfizer
Inc, New York |
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2004 |
When Brooklyn Artists Speak, Art Listens, curated by Leon Nicholas
Kalas, Community Room
Gallery, Brooklyn Borough
Hall, NY |
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2003 |
New York Abstract,
Esther M. Klein Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA |
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2002 |
Paper 2003,
metaphor contemporary art, Brooklyn, NY
The Printed Image REDEFINED, The Bryant Library Art League of Long
Island, Roslyn, NY
Re/Opening, Alpan Gallery, Huntington, NY |
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2001 |
Biennial 2001
Exhibition, Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts, Flushing, NY
Imitation of Life, guest curator Rene Lynch, The Tomasulo Gallery,
Union County College,
Cranford, NJ
Insider’s View, Part II: An Exploration of the Digital Printmaking
Process, Silicon Gallery,
Brooklyn, NY
Living Doll, curated by Rene Lynch, Anthony Giordano Gallery,
Oakdale, NY
Digital: Printmaking Now, 26th Print National, organized by Marilyn
Kushner, curator of
prints and drawings, Brooklyn Museum of
Art, New York; catalogue
Digital Dumbo, Mastel + Mastel Gallery, Brooklyn, NY |
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2000 |
Living Doll,
curated by Lesley Heller, The Work Space Gallery, New York
Abstractions, Gallery North, Setauket, NY
Collection Insights: Recent Acquisitions, curated by Catherine
Valenza, Islip Art Museum,
East Islip, NY
What’s New? Recent 20th Century Acquisitions, curated by Anne
DePietro, Heckscher
Museum of Art, Huntington, NY
Living Doll, curated by Rene Lynch, The Workspace Gallery, New York |
Selected Public and Corporate Collections |
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Brooklyn Museum, NY
Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY
Islip Art Museum, East Islip, NY
Museum of Modern Art, New York
National Museum of Taiwan
The Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Library of Congress, Washington, DC
A.I.G., New York
AT&T, New Jersey
Bank of Tokyo
Citibank, New York
Citicorp, Long Island City, NY
Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York
Equitable Life Assurance Company, New York
Goldman Sachs & Company, New York
Goldome Bank, New York
McKee Nelson LLP, New York
Graystone Realty, CT
Guy Carpenter Inc., New York
IBM Corporation, New York City and Paris
Joyce International, New York
Marine Midland Bank, New York
MONY’s Collection of Contemporary Prints, Purchase, NY
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., New York
NatWest, New York
NYNEX Corporation, New York
PepsiCo, Purchase, NY
Reader’s Digest Art Collection, Pleasantville, NY
Surdna Foundation, New York |
Membership |
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American Abstract Artists |
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