For over twenty years, Philadelphia-born Lisa Yuskavage has been painting female nudes in her own unique, innocent/erotic/caricaturish sort of way. David Zwirner currently has on view an exhibition of new works by the artist. Set against lush, gorgeous colors and dramatic, hazy, golden light, her subjects possess angelic faces and pornstar bodies. Often posed in dreamy, bucolic scenes, Yuskavage's women appear equal parts earth mother and lascivious vamp. Barely clothed and exposing pendulous breasts, the Yuskavage female often paradoxically looks sweet naif and wanton woman.
On display is Triptych, the artist's first three-part painting featuring a group of women on a hillside. In one panel, a young girl lies seemingly innocently on her stomach with her socked feet playfully up in the air. The center panel features another young woman with her legs spread eagle, uninhibitedly exhibiting her goodies for all to see. In the last panel, a group of severe-looking, babushka-wearing woman approach -- as if to reprimand the two free-spirited, sexually liberated, scantily clad lasses.
Yuskavage's gorgeous, dreamlike canvases feature a cast of female characters who seem either unaware of their overt sexuality or who completely own it and control it. Learn more at Davidzwirner.com. Through November 5th.
Babushkas, 2011
The Mound, 2011
Triptych, 2011
Afternoon Feeding, 2011
Outskirts, 2011
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