Leah Tinari Enjoying the Hose Down 2006 acrylic on canvas 48" x 68"
Leah Tinari Chug-a-Lug 2006 acrylic on canvas 40" x 40"
Leah Tinari Disappearing Act 2006 acrylic on canvas 48" x 68" [detail]
That's just hot.
Leah Tinari's show at Mixed Greens, "We Could Definitely Run for the Presidency", closes on Saturday, and that's a shame, because West 26th Street just won't be the same when it's gone. "Enjoying the Hose Down" is currently the hottest piece of art on the block, and it's visible outside the gallery or even from across the street. In fact the fresh crisp lines and shapes of Tinari's cartoon-like paintings, their backgrounds variously washed in white or black light, read as well from fifty feet as from fifty inches.
The most common subject of what I have to describe as her increasingly-mature work is the artist's own family and friends, gathered together mostly in lusty parties. Captured originally in snapshots, their merriment is transformed by an unlikely combination of paint strokes both lush and neat into hugely-seductive acrylic cartoons more colorful and alive than the work of either a camera or any ordinary brush.
This old dude is thinking he wants to be in there with the rest of the party, even if he's actually looking into the hysterical eye of a bridal shower or the beery scrum of a group of maturing frat-boys. Or maybe because.
But did you buy one?
Dave, unfortunately no, for two reasons: Over the years the space available on our walls has become as inadequate for the purpose as our bank account.
Fortunately yes, we were able to acquire a lot of then-obscure work at a time when the interest of the public in art and the prices of the art itself were both much more modest.
I'm very happy however both for Leah and for the gallery: The work seems to be selling very well.