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Biography

Rob Wynne - Artists - GAVLAK

b.  1948 New York,  NY
Lives and works in New York, NY

American sculptor and installation artist Rob Wynne tests the boundaries of genres in his delicately crafted mixed-media works centered around language, textiles, printmaking, and—most iconically—poured glass. Fundamentally concerned with breaking rules, Wynne eschews traditional techniques like glassblowing, and instead demonstrates the medium’s malleability by hand-pouring short phrases that are as exquisite as they are absurd, or crafting unexpected objects like disembodied eyeballs affixed to a branch, blood puddles, mushrooms, and delicate, almost trompe l’oeil, spiderwebs that seem to shimmer in sunlight after the rain. Words and language are key throughout Wynne’s practice, whether embroidered over images, formed of glass, or painted onto objects to alter meaning and suggest narratives. One Embroidered Painting, for example, features the open-ended phrase, “come back” over a Rococo image that he has simultaneously sent-up and complicated—hinting that the serious and the playful may be shades of the same thing.

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SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2020    Speechless Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2019    I Remember Ceramic Castles, Mermaids & Japanese Bridges, Norton Museum of Art Permanent Installation 

2018    Float, Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY

2017    OH2/H2O, Gavlak, Palm Beach, FL

2016    A Distant Mirror, Galerie Mitterrand, Paris, France

           Blue Ghost, 39 Great Jones, New York, NY

2015    Blindsight, Arthur Roger Gallery, New Orleans, LA

2014    The Backstage of the Universe, GAVLAK, Los Angeles, CA

2013    The Lure Of Unknown Regions Beyond The Rim Of Experience, Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.

           The Green Ray, GAVLAK, Palm Beach, FL

2012    I Remember Ceramic Castles, Mermaids & Japanese Bridges, Norton Museum of Art, West

           Palm Beach, FL

           REMEMBER ME, JGM.Galerie, Paris, France

2011    IN COG NITO, Locks Gallery,Philadelphia, PA (catalogue)

2009    Artificial Paradise, JGM.Galerie, Paris, France

           KISMET, Gavlak Gallery, Palm Beach, FL

2008    LIKE THE FLICKERING OF A CANDLE (catalogue), Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.

2006    The Heartbeat of a Bird, Craig Starr Associates, New York,  NY

2006     FRENCH KISS, JGM. Galerie, Paris, France

2004     Imitation and Disguise, JGM. Galerie,     Paris, France

2002     Almost Nothing, Galerie Oliver Schweden, Munich, Germany

2001     Galerie Edward Mitterrand, Geneva, Switzerland

1999    Thread drawings, Glass & ceramic sculpture, Galerie Oliver Schweden, Munich, Germany

           You’re Dreaming, Holly Solomon Gallery, New York City, NY

            Breathe, Rebecca Ibel Gallery, Columbus Ohio

1998     Rob Wynne: Glass Sculpture and Word Drawings, JGM. Galerie, Paris, France

1995     Sleepwalking, Holly Solomon Gallery, New York City, NY

1994    Window Shopping, Grey Art Gallery, New York University, New York , NY

1997    Afterglow ( catologue), Galerie Oliver Schweden, Munich, Germany  

1981    Sphere Redux (installation), The Kitchen, New York City, NY

 

SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019   Sunblink, Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA    

          Visible Traces (Mountain Water Air), Lévy Gorvy, NYC

          the thing itslef, Gavlak Gallery, Palm Beach, FL

2018   Rob Wynne + Les Lalannes PASTORAL, Gavlak Gallery, LA, CA

           Beautiful Strangers: Artists Discover the Garden, Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge, MA


2017   Flaming June VII: Flaming Creatures, GAVLAK, Los Angeles, CA

           Pride of Peace New Orleans Museum of Art, LA

           Vitreous Bodies: Assembled Visions In Glass, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Boston, MA

           Blue Ghost, 39 Great Jones, New York, NY

2016   Summer '16, Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

           Pop Real, Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2015   Ten Year Anniversary, GAVLAK Los Angeles, CA
           Emmanation, Wheaton Arts, Millville, NJ

2014   Inaugural Exhibition, GAVLAK Los Angeles, CA
           Please Enter, Franklin Parrasch Gallery, New York City, NY

2013   Reading List: Selections from the MoMA Library collection, Museum of Modern

           Art, New York, NYWord” Tomlinson / Kong Contemporary, NYC

           Something About A TREE, curated by Linda Yablonsky, The Flag Art Foundation, New York, NY

           Extravagant Creatures, curated by Clarissa Darlymple, C24 Gallery, New York, NY

           Seventh Inning Stretch, Eric Firestone Gallery, East Hampton, NY

2012    Alchemy, 7 Eleven Gallery, NYC

2011    A Sentimental Education, GAVLAK Palm Beach, FL

           Super Vision, Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2010   A Two Gallery Teacup Show, Turtle Point Press and Rose Burungham Living Room, New York

           Consider The Oyster, James Graham and Sons, New York, September 23-October 30,

           curated by Ingrid Dinter

           Multiple Pleasures: Functional Objects In Contemporary Art, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York,

           NY curated by Nathalie Karg / Cumulus Studios

           NATURAL RENDITIONS, Marlborough Chelsea, New York, NY 2010  “NEW LIGHT”, Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

           MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME, 7Eleven Gallery, New York, NY 2010 “THINK PINK”, Gavlak Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida

2009     KREEMART, Rob Wynne, Marina Abramovic, Mickalene Thomas,Leandro Ehrlich, Haunch of

           Venison, NY.,NY.

           FIGMENT, Kumukumu, Curated by Florence Uchida, NY.,N.Y. 2009  “Sparkle & Glitter”, Locks

           Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.

           Diletteantes, Dandies, and Divas, Gavlak Projects, West Palm Beach, FL. 2008

           I Won’t Grow Up, Cheim & Reid. New York, NY, (Catalogue)

2008    Anthology”, Otero Plassart, Los Angeles. CA.

           How to cook a wolf: part one, Dinter Fine Art New York,NY 2008

            Getting Out Our Dreams, Otero-Plassart, Los Angles, CA,

           Gold in Contemporary Art, Centre PasquArt Kunsthaus, Seevorstdat, Switzerland, (catalogue)

2007    Death & love in MODERN TIMES, Dinter Fine Art, New York,N.Y.

           Rouge Baiser, Biennale Estuaire Nantes, Saint Nazaire, Nantes, France

2005    High Drama: Eugene Berman and the Legacy of the Melancholic Sublime, curated by Michael Duncan

            Georgia Museum of Fine Art, Athens, Georgia McNay Art Museum, Austin, Texas

           The Upper Half” Stadtische Museum, Heilbronn, Germany Kunsthalle, Emden, Germany Museum Liner, Appenzell, Switzerland

           Walls ’n Things, Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery, New York, N.Y. selected by Clarissa Dalrymple

           Glass, Seriously, Dorsky Gallery, Long Island City, N.Y., curated by Lilly Wei (catalogue)

2004     Instituto de Artes Graficas de Oaxaca (IAGO), Oaxaca, Mexico, Carpe Diem Artists Books

           Barbara Krakow Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts, Print Publisher’s Spotlight: Carpe Diem Press

            Art and Illusion, Frederick Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, CA

            Rob Wynne and Stephen Mueller,  Rebecca Ibel Gallery, Columbus Ohio

           Gluck/Luck, ACC Galerie, Weimar, Germany

           Carpe Diem Editions, Texas Gallery, Houston, Texas

2003     Reading:Material, Kunsthalle Luitpold Block, Munich, Germany, Volume, NYC, NY  

           NYPD, Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Los Angeles, California,

           Arthur Roger Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana

           On the Wall, The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (catalogue)

2002    Officina/America, Galleria D’arte Moderna, Bologna, Italy, (catalogue)

           Portraits”, Galerie Edward Mitterrand, Geneva, Switzerland 

2001    Rob Wynne and Elisabeth Kley, Rupert Goldsworthy Gallery, New York City

2000    American Art Today: Fantasies & Curiosities, The Art Museum at Florida International University, Miami, curated by Dahlia Morgan 

1999    Past Forward, Holly Solomon Gallery, New York City,

           The Fifth International, New York City,  The Salon of 1999, Curated by David Rimanelli

1998      Le Corps du Livre, Carre d’Art Bibliothèque, Nimes, France, (catalogue)

           Vertical Painting, P.S.1 Institute for Contemporary Art, Long Island City, New York,

1997    John Baldessari, Nam June Paik, Jack Pierson, Andy Warhol, Rob Wynne, Holly Solomon Gallery, New York

           Woven in Oaxaca, A/D, New York City, 

           A-DRESS, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Canada

           Fashion Is a Verb, Museum at F.I.T., New York City,

1995   The Outside/Inside, Dortmunder Kunstverein, Dortmunder, Germany, (catalogue)

1994   Holly Solomon Gallery, New York City

1993   Art, Money & Myth, Palm Beach Museum of Art, Lake Worth, Florida

          Cadavre Exquis, The Drawing Center, New York City

1992   Slow Art: Painting in New York Now, P.S. 1 Museum, Long Island City, New York

1990   The Unique Print, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, (catalogue)

1986   About Place: Contemporary American Landscape, P.S. 1 Museum, Long Island City, New York,

1984   Cable Gallery, New York City

 

CATALOGUES

2019    Rob Wynne Post Nostalgia. Olin Hall Galleries, Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia, Essay by Lilly Wei

2016    Rob Wynne: A DISTANT MIRROR, Galerie Mitterrand, Paris, France Interview with Timothee Chaillou

2011   Locks Gallery, Philadelphia,PA. with an interview with Alice Quinn, director of The Poetry Society

          of America, “IN COG NITO”

2010   Nathan Bernstein & Co., New York, NY “Reflection”

2009   JGM Galerie, Paris, France “Artificial Paradise” Story by AM Homes

          Like the Flickering of a Candle. Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, PA. Essay by Carter Ratcliff

2008   DESSINS New York 2008, Collection Guerlain

2005   GLASS, SERIOUSLY Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs, L.I.C. NY 2005 curated by Lilly Wei Collection Guerlain: Dessins, New York

           Die Obere Halfte, Stadtische Museen, Heilbronn, Germany, Editions Braus

           High Drama: Eugene Berman and the Legacy of the Melancholic Sublime by Michael Duncan, The Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum,

           San Antonio, Texas, Hudson Hills Press, NY and Manchester

2003    On the Wall: Contemporary Wallpaper, co-published by The Fabric Workshop and Museum and The Museum of Art,

           Rhode Island School of Design, Providence

2002     La Collection du Frac des Pays de la Loire 2002, Ministere de la Culture et de la Communication,France

            Le Corps du Livre, Carre d’Art Bibliothèque, Nimes, France

            Rob Wynne: “afterglow,” text by Francis Naumann and David Rimanelli, Galerie Oliver Schweden, Munich, Germany

            Le Jardin Complice de l’Art, text by Sydney Picasso, curated by Daniel Sciora, Fondation d’Art Contemporain Daniel et Florence Guerlain, Les Mesnuls, France

1997    Apocalyptic Wallpaper, Donna De Salvo, Annetta Massie, essay by Gil Saunders, Wexner Center for the Arts, Ohio State University, Columbus

           L’Art à la Page, Chateau Musée Gagnes-Sur-Mer, France

           Livres d’Artistes de “Collectif Generation,” Center for Book Arts, New York

           The Unique Print: 70s into 90s, Clifford Ackley, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts

1986     About Place: Contemporary American Landscape, Edward Leffingwell, PS1 Museum, Long Island City, New York

 

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2019    Barbara A. MacAdam, Art News, March 15

            William Corwin, Art Critical, Febuary 22

            Sandra Schulman, WPB Magazine

            Bautze, Alessandra, Poetry Society of America, February 18th

 

2018    MacAdam, Barbara. “Rob Wynne: FLOAT,” Brooklyn Rail, July 11   

            Ryder, Olivia. “Rob Wynne activates Brooklyn Museum’s period collection with dynamic mirrored-glass wall works,” Urban Glass, June 19

            Gandhi, Lakshmi. “New York’s must see art & museum shows for Summer 2018,” Metro, May 31

2017    Pagel, David. “No wallflowers here: Sparks fly when art mingles on the walls of 'Flaming   

            June VII',” Los Angeles Times, June 27.

2011    Linda Yablonsky.  “Philadelphia  Inquirer” Artnet,    September

2009    James  Imbronco, PLAYBOY, July/Aug  2009

           A.M. Homes. “ Tear  of  Glass”  Hollands Diep December/January

           Paris Capitale. April 2009

           Le Magazine. March 2009

           Art News. April 2009

           Art in America. March 2009

2008    Architectural Digest. February

           Mallery Roberts Morgan. “Dior,J’Adore” Interior Design Magazine, February

2007     Penelope Green. “Kips Bay, Where Everything Glitters” The New York Times, April 19, P.6

2007    David Coleman. “The Next Garde” New York Magazine, May 21, P.100-104

2006     Leffingwell, Edward. Review, Art in America, November. MacAdam, Alfred. Review, ARTnews, November.

2006    The Art Universe,” Vanity Fair, November, pp. 310–11.

2005    Morgan, Robert. “Who Takes Art Seriously?” Glass, pp. 27–33. “Profile: Peter Marino,” Architectural Digest, France, p. 118.

2004   Review, Houston Chronicle, June 26.

2004    The Metamorphoses of Rob Wynne,  Review. Le Figaro, May 28.

2003   MacAdam, Barbara. “Back to the Wall,” ARTnews, December, pp.104–5.  

2002    Wei, Lilly. “Kismet.” Review, ARTnews, November.

           Johnson, Ken. “Kismet.” Review, The New York Times, September 6. 2000 Kley, Elisabeth. “Wynne’s Dream Logic,” Art in America, May, pp. 134– 39, 2000  MacAdam, Alfred. “Rob Wynne,” ARTnews,                January.

2000    Viladas, Pilar. “Floats Like a Butterfly,” The New York Times Magazine, February 20, pp. 51–56. 1999 “Critic’s Picks,” The Village Voice, November 30

1999   Johnson, Ken. “Critic’s Picks: Rob Wynne,” The New York Times, Weekend Section, December 17.

          Yablonsky, Linda. “Rob Wynne: ‘You’re Dreaming,’” TimeOut New York, December 16–30, p. 116.

1998    MacAdam, Barbara. “Where the Dinosaurs Are The Old Masters,” ARTnews, March, pp. 162–67.

1997    Dorsey, John. “The Importance and Reality of Illusion,” The Sun, October 21, p. 3E.

1996    Levin, Kim. “Voice Choices,” The Village Voice, April 30.

           Muchnic, Suzanne. Review, ARTnews, December.

           The New Yorker, April 29 and May 6.

           Princenthal, Nancy. Review, Art in America, September.

1994    Gardner, Paul. Review, ARTnews, December.

           The New York Times, “A Fashion Gallery: Eight New York Artists 1994  Interpret the New York Fall Collections,” September

           1992 Adams, Brooks. “’Slow Art’ at P.S. 1,” Art in America, October, p. 154.

           Liebman, Lisa. “’Slow Art’ at P.S. 1,” Interview Magazine, May, p. 63.

1990     Heartney, Eleanor. Review, ARTnews, January, p. 172.

           The New Yorker, August 6.

1988    Leffingwell, Edward. “A Navigator’s Code: The Paintings of Rob Wynne,”

            Arts Magazine, March, pp. 58–59.

           Levin, Kim. The Village Voice, February 17.

1986    Brenson, Michael. The New York Times, March 19. 1981 Ginsberg, Merle. Soho News, November 10

1981    Glueck, Grace. The New York Times, November 27

 

PUBLICATIONS

2017   Art As Jewellery, Published by ACC Art Books, by Louisa Guinness, London GB

2016   Peter Marino/Art Architecture, Published by Phaidon, London GB

2009   Inventing Marcel Duchamp, The Dynamics of Portraiture, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution Washington D.C.

2009   WALLPAPER by Carolle Thibout-Pomerantz, Flammarion Editions

2007   VANITAS 2, edited by Vincent Katz, New York, N.Y.

2006    BY HAND (The Use of Craft in Contemporary Art), Shu Hung and Joseph Magliara, editors, Princeton Architectural Press, N.Y.

2001   “About the Art of Looking” by Gabi Czoeppan. In Encountering Art, The Miho Museum, Shigaraki, Japan. The Overlook Press, Woodstock & New York.

1998    Taste, Nostalgia, edited by Allen S. Weiss. Lusitania Press.

 

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York

CityCentre Pompidou, Paris, France

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio

The Museum of Modern Art, New York City

The Whitney Museum of Art, New York City

The N.Y. Public Library, The Spencer Collection, New York City

The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

La Collection de Frac des Pays de la Loire, France

Bibliothèque National, Paris

Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, Florida

 

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