ICYMI: Jenny Saville’s Iconic Nude Portraits Are on View
London-based art girlies, tap in.
Contemporary artist Jenny Saville returns with her most expansive solo exhibition yet.
An iconic name within the art world, Saville is most known for her nude portraiture. Titled “The Anatomy of Painting,” this new exhibit showcases 45 pieces created throughout the course of her career.
For those unfamiliar with Saville, the UK native drew attention following her degree show at the Glasgow School of Art. Her obsession with flesh results in delicate pinks and reds of massive scale. “Since then, she has played a leading role in the reinvigoration of figurative painting,” Gagosian writes. “A genre that she continues to test today. Her unique ability to create visceral portraits from thick layers of paint reveals an artist with a deep passion for the process itself.”
Saville says, “Witnessing a surgeon makes you see how layered flesh is. I started to think about not just the anatomy of the body, but about the anatomy of painting: the layering, the pace and tempo of the painted surface, the viscosity of the paint.”
On view until September 7, the show has already been named a must-see by the art world. “From charcoal drawings to large-scale oil paintings of the human form, this chronological display includes works that question the historical notions of female beauty, the monumental nudes that launched Saville to acclaim in 1992 and new works on display for the first time,” the notes read.
Purchase tickets on the National Portrait Gallery’s website.
In other art news, this NY exhibition was inspired by singer Lana del Rey.
