Vija Celmins - Softcover

4.18

22 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714842648 ISBN 13: 9780714842646

Publisher: Phaidon Press, 2004

The magnificent artworks of the Latvia-born, U.S.-based Vija Celmins (b.1938) all testify to her undying fascination with the world around her - whether commonplace objects in her studio, the natural landscapes of her adopted California, or the pebbles beneath her feet. Primarily a painter of still life and landscape, Celmins is associated with 1960s Pop art and often uses photographs to create her signature 'impossible images', such as just-fired revolvers or exploding airplanes.

Now based in New York, Celmins has exhibited widely since the 1960s in museums such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the ICA, London; Museu Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid; and the Museum fur Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt.

In the Interview noted artist Robert Gober speaks with Celmins about their differing studio habits and the sources behind her work. Critic Lane Relyea surveys the artist's long and unique career with emphasis on her formative early paintings. Art historian and theorist Briony Fer in her Focus takes a deep look into Night Sky no. 19 (1998). In parallel to Celimins' own limitless depiction of the world, the Artist's Choice is Jorge Luis Borges' tale Funes the Memorious, about the vastness of human memory. Arists Writings include excerpts from her important 1991 interview with artist Chuck Close.

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Review:

"A superb addition to an addictive series."―Time Out

On the Contemporary Artists Series

"The boldest, best executed, and most far-reaching publishing project devoted to contemporary art. These books will revolutionize the way contemporary art is presented and written about."―Artforum

"The combination of intelligent analysis, personal insight, useful facts and plentiful pictures is a superb format invaluable for specialists but also interesting for casual readers, it makes these books a must for the library of anyone who cares about contemporary art."―Time Out

"A unique series of informative monographs on individual artists."―The Sunday Times

"Gives the reader the impression of a personal encounter with the artists. Apart from the writing which is lucid and illuminating, it is undoubtedly the wealth of lavish illustrations which makes looking at these books a satisfying entertainment."―The Art Book

Synopsis:

Primarily a painter of still-life and landscape, Vija Celmins (b. 1938, Latvia; moved to the US in 1949) is a major international figure associated with 1960s Pop art. Her unique, technically impeccable paintings and drawings choose as their subject matter 'impossible imagery': from exploding planes and burning house from her childhood memories in wartorn Latvia; to vast natural landscapes such as open seas, deserts and night skies; to undefinable spaces like the LA freeway; and natural objects, including desert rocks and spider webs. A highly respected figure in contemporary art, Celmins was awarded the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award (in Art) in 1996 and in 2004 is nominated for the Smithsonian's highly prestigious Lucelia Award. Vija Celmins' magnificent artworks all testify to her undying fascination with the world around her - whether the commonplace objects in her studio; the natural landscapes of her adopted California; or the pebbles beneath her feet. Primarily a painter of still-life and landscape, Celmins is associated with 1960s Pop art, and often uses photographs to create her signature 'impossible images', such as just-fired revolvers or exploding airplanes.

Temporarily abandoning painting in the 1970s, Celmins turned her attention to drawing exquisite graphite seascapes and other vast natural landscapes. Like the night skies she began in the 1980s, hers are 'unbound spaces...wrestled' into two-dimensions, the artist has said. As with her later spider webs, Celmins often blurs the boundaries of photography, painting, printmaking and drawing. Now based in New York, Celmins has exhibited widely since the 1960s. Her American retrospective travelled to the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; MoCA Los Angeles; the ICA, Philadelphia; Henry Art gallery, University of Washington, Seattle; and Walker Art Center, Minneapolis in 1992-94. 'Vija Celmins Works 1964-1996' travelled to the ICA, London; Museu Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid; Kunstmuseum Winterthur (Switzerland); and the Museum fur Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt, in 1997.

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