20 Years/20 Artists
Jacquelyn Schiffman, Benedita, 2002, mixed media on fabric, 28” x 17-1/2”
September 18 – October 30, 2021
Saturday and Sunday 1-6PM or by appointment
For covid concerns, there will be four smaller openings with five artists over the following dates
Masks will be required for these events
Saturday, September 18th from 2-6pm
Ingrid Capozzoli Flinn
Howard Eisman
Bonnie Faulkner
Raina Gillson
Maho Kino
Sunday, September 19th from 2-6pm
Jorge Alvarez
Matthew Greenway
Yuliya Lanina
Joachim Marx
Audrey Rhoda
Saturday, September 25th from 2-6pm
Doug Metzler
Artem Mirolevich
Arlene Morris
Susan Newmark
Rusel Parish
Sunday, September 26th from 2-6pm
Meridith McNeal
Jacquelyn Schiffman
Michael Sorgatz
Mary Westring
Fulvia Zambon
A cornerstone of the Williamsburg Brooklyn gallery scene, Figureworks opened its doors on April 16, 2000. In these 20 years the gallery has presented the work of hundreds of uniquely talented figure-based artists. To celebrate this anniversary, 20 artists who have continually exhibited with the gallery were selected for Figureworks 20/20, an exhibition that will run from September 18 – October 30, 2021. Including past and present work, these artists exemplify the diverse potential in realizing Figureworks continued mission to represent fine art of the human form.
Arlene Morris, a multi-media, narrative artist, was one of the first solo exhibitors in 2000 and remains essential in the longevity of the gallery. When Figureworks opened its ground floor exhibition space in 2017, it was with Arlene’s striking handmade paper series.
Williamsburg artist Jorge Alvarez was also an early exhibitor at Figureworks in 2001 with a series of finely detailed red-pencil drawings. His show sold out, supporting the gallery’s philosophy that a strong foundation in figure study is appreciated and valued. Jorge had two more successful solo exhibitions at Figureworks, including a posthumous retrospective of his work in 2008.
Over the years, a number of exceptional representational artists were added to the galleries stable including Ingrid Capozzoli Flinn, Raina Gillson, Matthew Greenway, Joachim Marx, Doug Metzler and Fulvia Zambon.
Bonnie Faulkner and Howard Eisman introduced glass to the gallery, exemplifying that glass creations are much more than craft objects, particularly with Bonnie’s illuminated shadow boxes and Howard’s large scale enamels, notably his outdoor garden piece installed in 2018.
Meridith McNeal first introduced herself to the gallery in 2000 with tours for art educators and students. One of Figureworks most prolific artists and advocates for the arts, Meridith has had five solo exhibitions here while continuing to foster young artists in her Brooklyn-based non-profit program, Art Yard Bklyn.
Expanding on their base as representational artists, collage artist Susan Newmark and painter Michael Sorgatz have taken their work into exceptional figurative abstraction.
Jacquelyn Schiffman also abstracts her figurative subjects into fabric-based wall hangings and floating sculpture while Yuliya Lanina frequently develops her animal/human-based paintings and collages into music boxes and short animated films.
One of the galleries most publicized exhibitions was The Cult of Michael Jackson in 2009 by Rusel Parish. This installation coincidently opened with Jackson’s unexpected death before his world tour. This brought tremendous press, celebrities, and mourners through Figureworks, putting the gallery on the map in a most unusual way.
Audrey Rhoda was one of Figureworks first international artists. Born in South Africa and living in Australia, her whimsical work in oil and wax were welcome additions as they introduced yet another medium and broadened the gallery’s international exposure.
There have been so many changes in the neighborhood these 20 years. As Williamsburg grew in popularity, many artists found their studio buildings turned into luxury condos, restaurants or boutiques. Fortunately, gallery favorites Maho Kino, Artem Mirolevich and Mary Westring are a handful of Figureworks artists who are still locally based, making studio visits a pleasurable walk away.
A video montage entitled Figureworks-Moments by documentarian Joan Brooker-Marks will run throughout the exhibit.
Figureworks is located at 168 North 6th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11211.
The gallery is open to the public Saturday and Sunday from 1-6 PM and is dedicated to exhibiting contemporary and 20th century fine art of the human form.
Figureworks hours are Saturday and Sunday (and by appointment) from 1-6PM
