Painting Abstraction: New Elements In Abstract Painting [Hardcover]

Bob Nickas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 18, 2009

In recent years, abstract painting has developed a rich complexity that, now more than ever, rewards intensive viewing; this authoritative book guides the reader through the key issues in the field. Painting Abstraction profiles 80 of today?s most vital contemporary abstract painters, such as Mark Grotjahn and Amy Sillman, featuring large full-color reproductions of their work and incisive texts by author and curator Bob Nickas. The product of years of research and countless studio visits, Painting Abstraction is a major statement on the last five years of this exciting new wave of creativity in painting.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lively survey?a useful tool in forming a sharper, broader sense of what is going on in the world of abstract painting."
–Roberta Smith, The New York Times

"Pictorially jazzy work?the visual energy and variety of these reproductions burst all pigeonholes. It's a wild ride of a reference book."
–San Francisco Chronicle

About the Author

Bob Nickas is a critic and curator based in New York. He has organized more than eighty exhibitions since 1984 and served on the teams responsible for ?Aperto? at the Venice Biennale in 1993 and the 2003 Lyon Biennial. From 2003 to 2006 he was Curatorial Advisor at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in New York. The author of numerous essays in catalogues and monographs, he is a regular contributor to Artforum and founding editor of Index magazine. His books include two collections of his writing, Live Free or Die (2000) and Theft is Vision (2007).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (November 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714849332
• ISBN-13: 978-0714849331
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 10.1 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars tripping the abstract universe, August 17, 2010

By 

Jill Miller - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting Abstraction: New Elements In Abstract Painting (Hardcover)

This is by no means an exhaustive collection of contemporary abstract painting, but it is a much needed exploration of recent trends in painting which are increasingly driven toward abstraction. I like how the book is broken down into thematic chapters which provide a nice curatorial flow to the text. I could make the complaint that many of the artists are already known commodities; but actually the book features a nice blend of more established artists as well as emerging artists who may or may not become historically relevant. All in all it is refreshing to see a book devoted to presenting such a wide ranging view of the expansive universe of abstract painting.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive & Inspirational, July 10, 2011

By 

janeeni - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Painting Abstraction: New Elements In Abstract Painting (Hardcover)

Would write more if not so busy, but to be brief, it's a truly great art book - broad range of artists - a book to kept for enjoyment and reference for always. I will treasure it and never let it out of my sight (others thoroughly enjoy it also, as it remains on coffee table for easy & regular access) You would never regret buying this classic art record in my opinion!