Artist as Curator

"Not So Subtle Subtitle" (curated by Matthew Brannon) at Casey Kaplan, through August 1

With artist-curated exhibitions, it often is impossible not to try and discern the artist’s aesthetic among his or her choices. Matthew Brannon’s solo show at Friedrich Petzel was one of the best shows this spring, largely because his witty and expertly designed prints so successfully evoke (and poke fun at) a younger generation of artists who, while already jaded with the gallery scene, still struggle to find a successful foothold within it. Brannon’s selections at Casey Kaplan reveal a penchant for the light and playful, particularly when accompanied by cool graphics. Guy de Cointet’s Russian Constructivist riff, “You Don’t Know the Russians” (1983), as well as Jay Batlle’s untitled drawings on fancy stationery, embody these criteria perfectly.

At left: Guy de Cointet, "You Don't Know the Russians" (1983)

Private collection, New York