Gallerist Adam Lindemann and artist Peter Coffin, photo by Art Observed

Peter Coffin’s first solo show in New York City in four years, A,E,I,O,U, is on view through November 2nd at Venus Over Manhattan Gallery at 980 Madison Avenue.

Prepared in just three months, the show features several large scale sculptures: an iconic Warholian larger-than-life dog, a skeletal wooden hand forming the “ok” symbol (reminding us of Nauman’s hand series, where each hand makes a sign whose meaning changes depending upon context), to a panel holding spools and spools of satin ribbons of various widths and colors.

Peter Coffin, Untitled (Dog) (2012). All photos by Ryann Donnelly for Art Observed

There are also several unassuming additions one might only find from reading the show’s checklist: a marble slab installed at the entry of the gallery and planter boxes which are hung outside the open windows.  A round speaker mounted to a stand near the middle of the gallery– a piece labeled Untitled (Pet Store)— also fills the space with sounds of birds, dogs, and bubbling fish tanks.

Art Observed recently sat down with Coffin to discuss the nature of the work, which he identifies as “Idea Art”.

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Aurel Schmidt

Downtown for Democracy and OHWOW have teamed up for a new book, The Pocket Guide to Politics. Providing an approachable entry point to politics for the average citizen, last night’s launch party took place in the Standard Hotel’s Boom Boom Room in New York. Aaron Bondaroff of OHWOW welcomed art world figures like Aurel Schmidt, André Saraiva, Terry Richardson, Bill Powers, Dustin Yellin, and Peter Coffin, while Donald Cummings of the Virgins played a piano tune, Kilo Kish rapped on the bar, and Nate Lowman DJed throughout the night.

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Agathe Snow, Hear No Evil, See No Evil (2008-2011). All photos on site for Art Observed by Alexandra Bregman.

OHWOW’s It Ain’t Fair lived up to its name as a successful destination apart from the Art Basel main fair last week. Located in Miami’s Design District, the show featured 20 artists in the fourth consecutive curated group show by OHWOW, this year’s theme: Materialism. As explored in Marxist philosophy, materialism at its most literal, tangible entity, focuses on the tactile rather than the abstractly metaphorical. Experimental materials served to manifest the ideology, with David Benjamin Sherry’s sand-filled photograph frame, Justin Beal’s use of plexiglass and plastic wrap, and the unique approach of Angel Otera, peeling and reapplying paint. “There’s not a bad piece in here,” said Operations Director Lydia Ruby. By Saturday evening, the gallery had sold most works on view, and had noted the remarkable curiosity and intellectualism overheard in the showroom.

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Untitled (Greenhouse), Peter Coffin at the UBS Gallery via Murmurmostfoul

Located in midtown Manhattan, UBS Gallery presents “Implant”, with around 100 works by 45 artists, including Pipilotti Rist, Peter Coffin, Roman Signer, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Ellsworth Kelly.  The show was organized by The Horticultural Society of New York, and holds a diverse range of sculptures, paintings, and conceptual works, ranging from the botanically accurate to more abstract interpretations of plant life. Each piece is said to be fueled by the artist’s personal connection (or lack thereof) to the natural kingdom.

The UBS Art Gallery: Implant [UBS]
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Yes, the Music Is Lovely, but Will the Plants Like It? [NYTimes]
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Horticultural Society of New York: Implant [HSNY]

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