New York, NY — Louis K. Meisel Gallery is pleased to announce Brian Booth Craig: Body Languages. For his second solo exhibition with the gallery, Brian Booth Craig presents a selection of life- and half-life-size bronze female nudes that present a contemporary interpretation on classical bronze figures.
Booth Craig’s work challenges the historic relationship between male artist and female model. He describes his process as a conversation in which the models present an image of themselves, and he in turn takes cues from their undirected movements and gestures. In a 2017 interview with Sculpture Atelier, he comments on his models’ empowerment, stating that, “I have to contextualize the male gaze within the contemporary society that hopefully recognizes female agency.” In strong, striking poses, the figures are aware of their sexuality and not afraid to engage the viewer. By intentionally replicating the body language specific to each model, Booth Craig preserves these expressions of individual self-assertion, first as clay forms and later as the final bronze sculpture.
Booth Craig has exhibited in numerous institutions, including Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao in Spain (2016), Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans (2014), and multiple exhibits at the John Pence Gallery in San Francisco. He is the recipient of The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant (1993) and an Honorary Member of the International Sculpture Center (2013). Booth Craig holds a B.A. from Pennsylvania State University and an M.F.A. from the New York Academy of Art. From 2004 to 2015 he served as Professor of Sculpture at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts and continues to teach annually at the Rome Academy Workshops in Rome, Italy.
Body Languages is on view from November 14 to December 20, 2019, with an opening reception on Thursday, November 14 from 6-8pm. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm. For additional information please visit our website, meiselgallery.com, or contact Gallery Director Elizabeth Harris at [email protected]. (Photograph of “Exotherm”, 2019, bronze with unique patina, 37 ½ x 12 x 7 inches)
