VISUAL ART & MUSEUMS

Tinney Contemporary is pleased to present The New Real—a contemporary realism exhibition curated by Tinney Contemporary gallery director, Sarah Wilson. Featuring works by six nationally recognized artists from across the country, The New Real seeks to demonstrate the continued relevance of realism in a contemporary art culture that defines itself by rebelling against traditional art genres. By utilizing inventive techniques and captivating subject matter, artists Eric Zener, Ali Cavanaugh, Danny Heller, Kay Ruane, Brian Tull, and Ron Porter nod to the age-old genre of realism, while reinventing our perception of it.

Though each artist defies the modern art world’s notion of realism in his or her own way, collectively, they represent a new class of artists who are putting realism back on the map after fifty years on the periphery. Using a carefully constructed visual language of symbols and personal iconography, these artists breathe life into the realism genre with art that is accessible, yet still challenging. Whether struck by the psychological aspect of Zener’s underwater paintings, the irony of Porter’s landscapes, or the quiet intimacy of Cavanaugh’s portraits, viewers will be drawn in by the artists’ conceived “realities.”

Wilson’s hope is that the exhibition showcases realism in a way that is fresh and exciting with artists whose works exemplify the new generation of realism—The New Real.

Exhibition Dates: July 7th - August 18th, 2012

Image:  The Search, Eric Zener