John McLaughlin Paintings: Total Abstraction
John McLaughlin Paintings: Total Abstraction
Long acknowledged in Southern California as one of the most important artists of the postwar period, John McLaughlin (1898-1976) created a focused body of geometric paintings that are entirely devoid of any connection to everyday experience, inspired by the Japanese notion of the void. Using a technique of layering rectangular bars on adjacent planes of muted color, McLaughlin creates works that provoke introspection and, consequently, a greater understanding of one’s relationship to nature. The exhibition consists of 52 paintings and a selection of collages and drawings that will establish McLaughlin as one of the foremost innovators of total abstraction. A fully illustrated catalogue (the artist’s first hardcover book) features essays by curator Stephanie Barron, artist Tony Berlant with co-curator Lauren Bergman, critic and independent curator Michael Duncan, LACMA's Gail and John Liebes Curator of American Art Ilene Susan Fort, and professor of art at University of California, Los Angeles Russell Ferguson.
This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and made possible by the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc., Mim Spertus and Ed Victor, and Van Doren Waxter.
Generous funding is provided by Holly and Albert Baril, Nancy and Bruce Newberg, Ellen Pardo and Stephen Solomon, and Louis Stern. Support is also provided by Jan and Bob Feldman and Daryl and Robert Offer, along with Lidia and Mauricio Epelbaum, Janice and Mark Lieberman, Teresa and Greg Nathanson, Darcie and Shelby Notkin, Judy and Gerald Rosenberg, Jennifer and Matthew Steinberg, and other supporters who wish to remain anonymous.
All exhibitions at LACMA are underwritten by the LACMA Exhibition Fund. Major annual support is provided by Kitzia and Richard Goodman, with generous annual funding from the Judy and Bernard Briskin Family Foundation, Louise and Brad Edgerton, Edgerton Foundation, Emily and Teddy Greenspan, Jenna and Jason Grosfeld, and Lenore and Richard Wayne.
Incomplete - Image
Images: John McLaughlin, #26, 1961, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of Mr. Joseph Mendelson through the Contemporary Art Council © John McLaughlin Estate
- Nov 13, 2016–Apr 16, 2017
- BCAM, Level 3: Nathanson Gallery
This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and made possible by the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc., Mim Spertus and Ed Victor, and Van Doren Waxter.
Generous funding is provided by Holly and Albert Baril, Nancy and Bruce Newberg, Ellen Pardo and Stephen Solomon, and Louis Stern. Support is also provided by Jan and Bob Feldman and Daryl and Robert Offer, along with Lidia and Mauricio Epelbaum, Janice and Mark Lieberman, Teresa and Greg Nathanson, Darcie and Shelby Notkin, Judy and Gerald Rosenberg, Jennifer and Matthew Steinberg, and other supporters who wish to remain anonymous.
All exhibitions at LACMA are underwritten by the LACMA Exhibition Fund. Major annual support is provided by Kitzia and Richard Goodman, with generous annual funding from the Judy and Bernard Briskin Family Foundation, Louise and Brad Edgerton, Edgerton Foundation, Emily and Teddy Greenspan, Jenna and Jason Grosfeld, and Lenore and Richard Wayne.
Incomplete - Image
Images: John McLaughlin, #26, 1961, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of Mr. Joseph Mendelson through the Contemporary Art Council © John McLaughlin Estate
Media
In this video, contemporary artists Ed Moses, Mark Grotjahn, Roy McMakin, Marcia Hafif, Tony Berlant, Tony DeLap, and James Hayward comment on John McLaughlin's paintings, his style, and his influences.