Promising Start for a New Art Space
Jeffrey Carlson Reporting
Contributing Editor, Fine Art Today
The Maxwell Alexander Gallery in Culver City, California, staged its Grand Opening in mid-December with a powerful show of contemporary realist and Western art.
December 15 saw a busy opening night for the Maxwell Alexander Gallery in Culver City, California. Founded by Beau Alexander, the gallery aspires to offer new representation for California artists and to provide an innovative context for viewing their artwork. Alexander explains, “We are putting a gallery together that is based on curated shows rather than representing a long roster of artists. Our goal is to build lasting relationships with our clients and give the support that the artists we are working with deserve.” Incorporating museum-style curating techniques into a group gallery exhibition may set this new art space apart and help to fix what often feels disjointed about group shows. The Grand Opening event provided an intriguing example of just how curated shows at Maxwell Alexander Gallery will look.
The Grand Opening included works by Kim Cogan, Glenn Dean, Josh Elliott, Logan Maxwell Hagege, Jefferson Hayman, Ignat Ignatov, David Kassan, Robert Lemler, Jeremy Lipking, Mark D. Nelson, Sergio Sanchez, Billy Schenck, and Joseph Todorovitch. From Cogan’s memento mori still lifes to the contemplative figural works of Lipking and Todorovitch and the Southwestern imagery of Nelson, Schenck, and Maxwell, the Grand Opening represented a wide array of styles. The show proved a successful and promising beginning. Several sales were recorded before the opening itself, which received about 400 visitors. Thirty minutes into the show, the gallery was at maximum capacity, and from 7:30-10 p.m. visitors could expect to wait 45 minutes for entrance.
For more information and the full catalogue, visit http://www.maxwellalexandergallery.com/exhibition/grand-opening/.