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Brett Bigbee - Recent Work - Exhibitions - Alexandre Gallery

Abby, 2005-2010, oil on linen, 70 1/32 x 53 7/8 inches

Brett Bigbee
Recent Work

October 20 – December 17, 2011

The gallery will present an overview of Brett Bigbee’s (b. 1954) recent paintings and drawings completed during the past ten years. Included will be three large-scale figurative oil paintings, small-scale still-life paintings and related drawings, both developmental and fully realized. His most recent painting, Abby (2005 – 2010), depicts a pre-teen girl clad in a brightly-colored flowered swimsuit emerging from a landscape of dirt and leafy groundcover. The exhibition will include loans from private and museum collections and will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue with text by John Yau.

Bigbee’s highly detailed and refined realism results in works of arresting psychological intensity and sensitivity that break free of the clichés and sentimentality too often associated with the genre. Yau writes: “Working on a painting, often for years, Bigbee always places his labor-intensive process at the service of the particularizing expression, at once direct and elusive, relaxed and introspective, open to the world and yet separate from it.” And speaking to the near metaphysical effect, Yau continues: “Stillness and change lie at the heart of the artist’s portraits: the aching desire to slow down time is spelled out in carefully effaced brushstrokes, which literally and figuratively caress each surface and trace each contour. Bigbee’s labor – an act of devotion – is essential to the meaning of his work.”

This exhibition marks the first New York showing of the Bigbee’s work since 2003.

Installations

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Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
Dark Earth, 2010-2011, oil on linen, 9 1/16 x 12/18

Dark Earth, 2010-2011, oil on linen, 9 1/16 x 12/18

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Apples and Cherries, 2004, oil on canvas, 11 11/16 x 12 5/16 inches

Apples and Cherries, 2004, oil on canvas, 11 11/16 x 12 5/16 inches

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Three Apples, 1999-2003, oil on canvas, 11 3/4 x 13 5/16 inches

Three Apples, 1999-2003, oil on canvas, 11 3/4 x 13 5/16 inches

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Still Life, 1999, oil on linen, 11 9/16 x 13/16 inches

Still Life, 1999, oil on linen, 11 9/16 x 13/16 inches

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Quince, 2000-2001, oil on canvas, 14 1/4 x 17 1/4 inches

Quince, 2000-2001, oil on canvas, 14 1/4 x 17 1/4 inches

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Apples And Cherries, 2004, graphite on paper, 12 1/4 x 12 3/4 inches

Apples And Cherries, 2004, graphite on paper, 12 1/4 x 12 3/4 inches

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James, 1999-2001, oil on canvas, 47 3/4 x 22 1/2 inches

James, 1999-2001, oil on canvas, 47 3/4 x 22 1/2 inches

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Portrait of Ann, 2004-2008, oil on linen, 18 1/8 x 14 1/8 inches

Portrait of Ann, 2004-2008, oil on linen, 18 1/8 x 14 1/8 inches

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Portrait of Ann, Third, 2007, graphite on paper, 9 7/16 x 7 7/16 inches

Portrait of Ann, Third, 2007, graphite on paper, 9 7/16 x 7 7/16 inches

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Portrait of Ann, Second, 2007, graphite on paper, 17 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches

Portrait of Ann, Second, 2007, graphite on paper, 17 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches

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Abby, 2005-2010, oil on linen, 70 1/32 x 53 7/8 inches 

Abby, 2005-2010, oil on linen, 70 1/32 x 53 7/8 inches 

Inquire
Abby, 2004, graphite on paper, 11 1/2 x 8 inches

Abby, 2004, graphite on paper, 11 1/2 x 8 inches

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Abby (Torso Study), 2007, graphite on paper, 25 x 19 inches

Abby (Torso Study), 2007, graphite on paper, 25 x 19 inches

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Joe and James, 2002-2004, oil on linen, 64 3/8 x 49 1/4 inches

Joe and James, 2002-2004, oil on linen, 64 3/8 x 49 1/4 inches

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Study for James, 2000, graphite on paper, 9 1/2 x 11 inches

Study for James, 2000, graphite on paper, 9 1/2 x 11 inches

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Joe and James, 2001-2003, graphite on paper, 60 x 50 inches

Joe and James, 2001-2003, graphite on paper, 60 x 50 inches

Inquire
Dark Earth, 2010-2011, oil on linen, 9 1/16 x 12/18

Dark Earth, 2010-2011, oil on linen, 9 1/16 x 12/18

Apples and Cherries, 2004, oil on canvas, 11 11/16 x 12 5/16 inches

Apples and Cherries, 2004, oil on canvas, 11 11/16 x 12 5/16 inches

Three Apples, 1999-2003, oil on canvas, 11 3/4 x 13 5/16 inches

Three Apples, 1999-2003, oil on canvas, 11 3/4 x 13 5/16 inches

Still Life, 1999, oil on linen, 11 9/16 x 13/16 inches

Still Life, 1999, oil on linen, 11 9/16 x 13/16 inches

Quince, 2000-2001, oil on canvas, 14 1/4 x 17 1/4 inches

Quince, 2000-2001, oil on canvas, 14 1/4 x 17 1/4 inches

Apples And Cherries, 2004, graphite on paper, 12 1/4 x 12 3/4 inches

Apples And Cherries, 2004, graphite on paper, 12 1/4 x 12 3/4 inches

James, 1999-2001, oil on canvas, 47 3/4 x 22 1/2 inches

James, 1999-2001, oil on canvas, 47 3/4 x 22 1/2 inches

Portrait of Ann, 2004-2008, oil on linen, 18 1/8 x 14 1/8 inches

Portrait of Ann, 2004-2008, oil on linen, 18 1/8 x 14 1/8 inches

Portrait of Ann, Third, 2007, graphite on paper, 9 7/16 x 7 7/16 inches

Portrait of Ann, Third, 2007, graphite on paper, 9 7/16 x 7 7/16 inches

Portrait of Ann, Second, 2007, graphite on paper, 17 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches

Portrait of Ann, Second, 2007, graphite on paper, 17 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches

Abby, 2005-2010, oil on linen, 70 1/32 x 53 7/8 inches 

Abby, 2005-2010, oil on linen, 70 1/32 x 53 7/8 inches 

Abby, 2004, graphite on paper, 11 1/2 x 8 inches

Abby, 2004, graphite on paper, 11 1/2 x 8 inches

Abby (Torso Study), 2007, graphite on paper, 25 x 19 inches

Abby (Torso Study), 2007, graphite on paper, 25 x 19 inches

Joe and James, 2002-2004, oil on linen, 64 3/8 x 49 1/4 inches

Joe and James, 2002-2004, oil on linen, 64 3/8 x 49 1/4 inches

Study for James, 2000, graphite on paper, 9 1/2 x 11 inches

Study for James, 2000, graphite on paper, 9 1/2 x 11 inches

Joe and James, 2001-2003, graphite on paper, 60 x 50 inches

Joe and James, 2001-2003, graphite on paper, 60 x 50 inches