Hauser & Wirth are presenting the exhibition Verena Loewensberg “Kind of Blue” at their Upper East Side gallery. This is the first solo exhibition in the United States for this important artist. Loewensberg was the only female member of the Zurich school of concrete artists. Using precise geometry and vivid colors the artist’s work spans decades.
This Untitled canvas from 1964- 1965 features a central square that is positioned to have its diagonals parallel to the sides of the canvas. Enveloping the square are four concave quadrilaterals. Instead of using the expected triangles around the square the element of concavity creates a the sense that quadrilaterals coming from the corners of three canvas are hugging the square. This work has 4-fold rotational symmetry.
This Untitled canvas from 1963 features an isosceles triangle with its base along the bottom edge of the painting. This central figure has been divided into three sections creating a smaller similar triangle at the top and two quadrilaterals with a mirror symmetry between them.
Loewensberg work has a playful color pallet, I felt very happy walking through the gallery space surrounded by her work.
Loewensburg was also loved sound was influenced by Jazz. She owned a record store. The exhibition had a separate room displaying albums and playing Jazz. The title of the show “Kind of Blue” is from the the 1959 Miles Davis album.
Susan Happersett
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