Mitchell Algus, 2023

This selection of work from 1991 to 2023 includes paintings of lineages, or family trees, of thoroughbred racehorses. More recent work explores the gothic imagery of trees.
Jasper Johns’ early paintings circumscribe a pretty shallow circle of reference— numbers, states, names of colors, the artist’s studio. In these paintings from the 1990’s I wanted to deploy words as symbols but with a slightly deeper frame of reference—without the references straying too far outside of the activity of art and it’s associated patronage and privileges. Racehorses seemed to do the trick. The parallel with art business was pretty clear. 

Installation views

Hansel, 1991, ink and acrylic on canvas, 85 x 51 inches

Thunder Rumble, 1992, ink and acrylic on canvas, 85 x 51 inches

Untitled, 2019, ink on board, 19 x 14 inches