Mitchell-Innes & Nash

Axel Geis · October 17 - November 22, 2008

534 W 26th Street
October 17 - November 22, 2008

Press Release

July 15, 2008 – New York: Mitchell-Innes & Nash announces an exhibition of new oil paintings by Berlin-based painter Axel Geis, on view in the Chelsea gallery from October 17 – November 22, 2008. The exhibition will be the artist's first solo show in the United States.

Geis's paintings feature figures set in ambiguous locations and uncertain time periods. Although he often uses images from films as points of departure, the artist pulls subjects from their specific contexts and sets them against seemingly unfinished backdrops. The figures appear to float on the picture plane amid visible brushstrokes in muted or earthy tones. While engaging with masters such as El Greco, Velázquez, Goya and Manet, the artist nonetheless brings a freshness to the genre of history painting and, above all, makes his own contemporary commentary.

Axel Geis was born in 1970 in Limburg, Germany, and currently lives and works in Berlin. He studied at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste Karlsruhe and the Akademie für Bildende Künste Mainz in Germany. He is the focus of a major solo exhibition now on view at the Kunsthalle Mannheim in Germany, and his work is included in the exhibition Euro-Centric Part 1: New European Art from the Rubell Family Collection in Miami. He has had solo shows at venues including Galerie Jan Wentrup in Berlin. Geis is represented by Galerie Jan Wentrup. In conjunction with the New York exhibition, Mitchell-Innes & Nash will produce a fully illustrated catalogue featuring an essay by art historian Mark Gisbourne, author of the 2007 book Berlin Art Now (Abrams).


Also on View:
Martha Rosler: September 6 – October 11, Chelsea
William Pope.L: September 18 – October 24, Uptown

Listing Information:
Mitchell-Innes & Nash: 534 West 26th Street T: (212) 744-7400 www.miandn.com
Opening reception: October 17, 2008, 6 – 8pm
Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat, 10am – 6pm

Press Contact:
Stacy Bolton Communications
T: 212.721.5350
E: Emily@StacyBolton.com

Exhibition Publications

AXEL GEIS

Exhibition Images

ALLAN D'ARCANGELO
"Untitled," 1967
Oil on canvas
70 by 48 3/4 in. 177.8 by 123.8 cm.


ALLAN D'ARCANGELO
"Marilyn," 1962
Acrylic on canvas with string and scissors
60 by 54 in. 152.5 by 137 cm.


ALLAN D'ARCANGELO
"Madonna and Child," 1963
Acrylic on canvas
68 5/8 by 60 3/8 in. 174.3 by 153.4 cm.


ALLAN D'ARCANGELO
"Mr. and Mrs. Moby Dick," 1974
Acrylic on canvas
72 by 102 in. 182.8 by 259 cm.


ALLAN D'ARCANGELO
"Pi in the Sky," 1981-82
Acrylic on canvas
48 by 66 in. 122 by 167.6 cm.


Frau nach Links
2008
Oil on canvas
118 by 76 in.


Trompeten
2008
Oil on canvas
55 3/4 by 42 3/8 in. 141.5 by 107.5 cm.


Frau mit Mannern
2008
Oil on canvas
87 1/2 by 56 in. 222 by 142.5 cm.


Weiblicher Kopf vor rosa Grund
2008
Oil on canvas
55 1/2 by 42 1/8 in. 141 by 107 cm.


Frau nach rechts
2008
Oil on canvas
120 7/8 by 79 3/4 in. 307 by 202.5 cm.


Gruppe mit Sonnenschirm
2008
Oil on canvas
17 3/8 by 21 5/8 in. 44 by 55 cm.


Junge mit angezogenem Bein
2008
Oil on canvas
83 1/2 by 48 7/8 in. 212 by 124 cm.


Kriechende
2008
Oil on canvas
80 by 72 7/8 in. 203 by 185 cm.


Liegende
2008
Oil on canvas
37 7/8 by 28 3/8 in. 96 by 72 cm.


Mann mit leicht angewinkeltem Bein
2008
Oil on canvas
42 1/2 by 33 1/2 in. 108 by 85 cm.


Figuren und Uniformen
2008
Oil on canvas
130 3/8 by 97 1/4 in. 331 by 247 cm.


Kopf mit Kopftuch
2008
Oil on canvas
26 3/8 by 17 3/4 in. 67 by 45 cm.


Kopf im Schatten
2008
Oil on canvas
26 3/8 by 17 3/4 in. 67 by 45 cm.


AXEL GEIS
"Ohne Titel," 2008
Oil on canvas
48 by 26 1/8 in. 122 by 66.5 cm.


AXEL GEIS
"Rückenansicht eines weiblichen Kopfes," 2008
Oil on canvas
55 1/2 by 42 1/8 in. 141 by 107 cm.


Installation View


Installation View


Installation View


Installation View


Installation View


Untitled
1967
Acrylic on canvas
69 by 84 in. 175.3 by 213.3 cm.


Pike
1976-77
Acrylic and pencil on canvas
48 1/4 by 66 1/4 in. 122.6 by 168.3 cm.


Wing Two
1982
Acrylic on canvas
36 1/8 by 50 in. 91.8 by 127 cm.


The Scarlet Letter
1962
Acrylic on canvas
51 1/4 by 45 1/8 in. 130.2 by 114.6 cm.


Head Gasket #1
1962
Acrylic on canvas
27 1/4 by 32 1/2 in. 69.2 by 82.6 cm.


Proposition #20
1966
Acrylic on canvas
40 1/8 by 40 1/8 in. 101.9 by 101.9 cm.