Closer to the Skin by Agnes Pezeu

Closer to the SkinNew works by Agnès Pezeu

January 17 - April 8 at Conde Nast BuildingExhibition: January 31 - February 22 at gallery nine5

gallery nine5 is pleased to present over 20 new works by French contemporary artist Agnes Pezeu. Closer to the Skin will be displayed across two locations: the first half of the show opens on January 24 in the landmark Conde Nast Building in New York’s Times Square, while the second half will open January 30 paired with an artist performance at gallery nine5. This will be Pezeu’s first solo exhibition at gallery nine5 in nearly three years.

In the spirit of the Aristotelian concept of body and soul, the life-size canvases of Agnes Pezeu illustrate that the two are in fact interconnected. In her expressionistic style, similar in manner to the action painters of the 1940s, Pezeu aims to capture the soul’s ethereal and elusive presence by portraying a body in movement. Sometimes bisected by the edge of the canvas, or their contours blurred and hazy, the figures hint to a hidden aspect. To produce this effect, Pezeu traces charcoal outlines of models enacting various scenes before drizzling paint over the canvases to further delineate the silhouettes.

With her second show at gallery nine5, Pezeu experiments with a more vibrant tonal palette and a much more intimate rendering of the body, thus coming closer to the skin. The result allows for an ambiguous reading of each piece: are we seeing an

interpretation of the body, or the remaining traces of its existence suggesting the lingering essence of the individual? The strange corporeal markings produce seductive forms, which the artist creates through her use of solvent and allowing time to thwart the original shape. Time becomes an element of the media having a similar effect on the canvas as it does on the body. For the opening of the exhibition, Pezeu will focus on contours and shadow in an artist performance which will invite guests to observe and participate in her creative process.

Pezeu has painted frescos in numerous French cities in addition to completing private commissions. Recent projects include a sculpture for the Parc de I’Ile Saint Germain, and a light installation for the 17th Arrondissement of Paris. Her work is held in private collections throughout Paris, Lyon, Milan, Rome, London, Madrid, Seoul, Tokyo, Istanbul, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Montreal, and Mexico. gallery nine5 is proud to present the work of Agnes Pezeu at Conde Nast in conjunction with the Durst Organization and chashama.

ChairCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas57 7/8 x 74 in | 147 x 188 cm

Chair IIICharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas57 1/2 x 37 1/2 in | 146 x 95.6 cm

Sous la pluie Charcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas75 7/8 x 51 in | 192.7 x 129.5 cm

VagueCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas56 3/4 x 37 | 144.3 x 94 cm

Avec le temps IICharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas57 x 37 3/4 in | 145 x 96 cm

TendreCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas58 x 39 in | 147.3 x 99 cm

ParadeCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas78 x 52 7/8 in | 198 x 134 cm

EnsembleCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas78 3/4 x 78 3/4 in | 200 x 200 cm

Ensemble IICharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas78 x 58 in | 198 x 147.5 cm

Précieux et fragileCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas76 x 37 3/8 in | 195 x 95 cm

MagnifiqueCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas80 x 70 in | 203 x 178 cm

En priantCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas80 x 50 in | 203.2 x 127

MarsCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas67 1/2 x 45 in | 172 x 114.5 cm

SensationCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas77 x 45 | 195.6 x 114.3

EvidentCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas83 3/4 x 77 in | 210.5 x 195.5 cm

Dès que possibleCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas77 x 39 in | 196 x 99 cm

La Chair IICharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas64 3/8 x 39 3/8 in | 163.5 x 100 cm

A la surfaceCharcoal, acrylic and oil on canvas77 3/4 x 40 in | 198 x 101.5 cm

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