Mark Grotjahn: Backcountry

The artist Mark Grotjahn further removes himself from the anthropomorphism prominent in his past series in his exhibition at Gagosian’s Grosvenor Hill gallery, “Backcountry”. Titled in reference to his time spent outdoors in Colorado skiing and fly-fishing, the works have been made in Grotjahn’s usual medium of choice, oil paint on linen-mounted cardboard, and mark a new period of creative exploration and experimentation for the artist. Most of the featured compositions exist on black backgrounds (as opposed to his previous use of white) and are full of texture and spontaneous gestural markings, suggesting imagery of forests filled with Aspen trees that remind us of nature’s power.