September 24 – October 29, 1977
Artists Space
Pictures
Troy Brauntuch, Jack Goldstein, Sherrie Levine, Robert Longo, Philip Smith
Organized by Douglas Crimp
Organized by critic Douglas Crimp, Pictures includes the work of Troy Brauntuch, Jack Goldstein, Sherrie Levine, Robert Longo, and Philip Smith. Their work represents the first look at important new developments in art thoroughly discussed in the catalog essay written by Douglas Crimp. The five artists in the exhibition share a common interest in the psychological manifestations of identifiable and highly connotative, though non-specific, imagery. Crimp has remarked in his text that “representation has returned in their work not in the familiar guise of realism, which seeks to resemble a prior existence, but as an autonomous function…It is the representation freed from the tyranny of the represented.”
Pictures is sponsored by National Distillers and Chemical Corporation, whose generosity and interest has allowed Artists Space an important opportunity to present a carefully and critically approached group exhibition. This unusual corporate support for art that has not had extensive public exposure has created a situation where new work can be afforded the same serious attention as that often extended established art. Artists Space increasingly has felt the importance of extending its policy of providing a responsive outlet for new art to creating contexts for the art that identifies it and additionally makes it accessible to the public. Pictures will travel to several U.S. art centers, ending its schedule at LAICA, Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art in May 1978.
While the five artists in the show has certain similar concerns with the function of the image, they are each working in different media, and generating pictures/situations that are clearly unique in their motivation. The exhibition includes the subtle and refined reproductive techniques of Troy Brauntuch’s prints; the assertive colored phonograph records, short films and photographs of Jack Goldstein; Sherrie Levine’s serially represented profiles executed on graph paper with fluorescent paint; the cast aluminum reliefs painted with bright enamel by Robert Longo, who also works with videotapes and performance; and the large scale pastel chalk drawings of multiple evocative vignettes by Philip smith, who in the past has worked in slide/sound presentations. These artists represent a larger trend that marks the first significant shift in current art since the demise of conceptual art and the pervasive media involvements of the seventies.
![A photo of a 2D artwork consisting of a blank rectangular surface with the image of an classical sculpture bust in the lower left-hand corner.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/4109919046-1623172948/07l2zViLr_.jpg)
![A large room with white walls. Artworks hang on the right and left walls, covering most of the surface area. There is a door open towards the back of the room.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/1842449359-1623172948/77-pictures-color-fixed-1280x.jpg)
![Black and white installation shot of a gallery corner. Attached to the wall are nine square black pieces on the left, and two dark circles on the right.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/2478441240-1623172948/77-pictures-conditionreport-005-1280x.jpg)
![Black and white installation photograph of a gallery corner. On the floor, a crescent shaped object rests on a pedastal. Above, several black panels are attached to the wall.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/3558504904-1623172948/77-pictures-conditionreport-006-1280x.jpg)
![[Artworks hang on walls on the left and right. In the background, a neighboring building is visible through the window.]](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/582194948-1623172948/77-pictures-installation2-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white installation view of two square black panels on a white wall. The hazy outline of a circle with a figure behidn can be discerned in each canvas.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/966343055-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-031-fixed-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white photograph of an artwork. A gainst a black background, 35 circles are drawn. Inside of each sphere is a miniature scene, either featuring people, planes, or household interiors.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/3907036910-1623172948/photo-sept77-pictures-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white installation photo of a gallery space. An illuminated low pedastal on the floor holds a crescent shaped object.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/175330555-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-102-fixed-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white photograph of an artwork. Over a black background are the silhouetted outlines of several human figures standing and sitting.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/3906735231-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-108-fixed-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white installation photograph of a gallery space. Several rectangular forms are on the floor, and a large voluminous black rectangle is attached to the wall on the left.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/3507624774-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-110-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white installation photograph of three framed drawings on a white wall. The center frame is a pared down sketch of a column, and the flanking frames feature feature a simple croshatch of four lines, topped with a fifth.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/251461671-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-124-fixed-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white installation photograph of a gallery space. Several large framed pieces hang on the left and right walls.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/376132286-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-003-fixed-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white photograph of a person in a white collared shirt and tie standing in front of a wall, extending their left hand out and up parallel to the surface. The wall features an upturned trapezoid shape, with illustrations of riders on horseback emerging from the left to right side of the shape.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/2003112178-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-010-1280x.jpg)
![Black and white installation photograph of a gallery. a figure stands on the left, contemplating several wall hangings. A dog is visible on the right, wagging its tail.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/2358185920-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-040-fixed-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white photograph of a gallery installation. A figure poses in front of a wall with several hanging objects, their arms outstretched to either side.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/1291964416-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-041-fixed-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white photograph of three figures standing in a gallery space. They each hold a drink in their hand and are smiling.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/1012300866-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-044-fixed-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white photograph of an interior with four figures. The left-most figure stands, bending down slightly to speak to another who is seated on a striped bench along with two other people.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/3975434980-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-050-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white photograph of two figures standing in front of a wall of framed silhouettes.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/1622446431-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-060-fixed-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white photograph of two figures standing in a gallery space. The figure on the left looks at the one on the right. In the background, a crowd of people and se veral large wall hangings are visible.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/1568285515-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-089-1280x.jpg)
![A black and white photograph of a crowded gallery space. In the background, several large black and white wall hangings are visible.](https://artistsspace.org/media/pages/exhibitions/pictures/1744183849-1623172948/77-pictures-opening-128-1280x.jpg)
Lawson, Thomas, "'Pictures' at Artists Space." Art in America. January- February 1978. Print. 118.
Henry, Gerrit, "Pictures." ARTnews. January 1978. Volume 77. Number 1. Print.
"Pictures." Arts Magazine. December 1977. Print. 17.
Frank, Peter, "Pictures and Meaning." Art Week. April 29, 1978. Print. 5.
"Multi-media exhibit on display this month." The Colorado Daily. September 12, 1978. Print. 10.
"Fall Art Showcase." The New York Times. September 23, 1977. Print. C14.
Yablonsky, Linda. "Photo Play." Art in America. April 3, 2009. Online.
"New York Architecture and Design Calendar." Skyline. January, 1979. Print.
Zimmer, William. "Pictures and Statements." The Soho Weekly News. October 6, 1977. Print.
Pictures is sponsored by National Distillers and Chemical Corporation, whose generosity and interest has allowed Artists Space an important opportunity to present a carefully and critically approached group exhibition. This unusual corporate support for art that has not had extensive public exposure has created a situation where new work can be afforded the same serious attention as that often extended established art. Artists Space increasingly has felt the importance of extending its policy of providing a responsive outlet for new art to creating contexts for the art that identifies it and additionally makes it accessible to the public. Pictures will travel to several U.S. art centers, ending its schedule at LAICA (Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art) in May 1978.