Abstractionists Switching Camps

Deidre Stein Greben has an interesting article on abstract artists creating figurative art in Artnews Online. It seems that many 'committed abstractionists' are being drawn to realist work and struggling with the implications of the switch. In some cases the need for realism seemed like an organic, natural progression, while one artist , Francesca Gabbiani, says that 'When I feel I have reached a dead end in my work, I need to move in another direction.' - which to me implies that she'd simply run out of ideas. Some have been taking flack for the aparrent 'about face' which some critics feel is a negation of their earlier work. But artist Stephanie Pryor likens the move to coming out of the closet - “It’s like having a heterosexual relationship if you’re gay." Most artists will relate to this sentiment, as visual expression is for most of us an integral part of our sense of self. Fortunately some critics have had a dose of common sense, as with Guggenheim curator Robert Rosenblum, wo says that 'if you are going to paint, paint what you want'. Hmm, ok Mr Curator, tell me something I don't know.......