GROUP EXHIBITION

Jannis Kounellis, Arnulf Rainer, Antoni Tàpies Galerie Lelong 5 September–26 October 2019 38 Avenue Matignon, Paris

Press Release

Jannis Kounellis, Arnulf Rainer and Antoni Tàpies all placed the brutality of the material and the energy of the gesture at the heart of their work. Their unique artistic language examines the sacred character of art through the use of profane codes. Tàpies with his exploration of material and the inclusion in this works of signs and objects from daily life, Kounellis by his use of raw materials, and his pared-down and dramatic scenography, and Rainer by his obsessional ‘overpaintings’ and his ferocious self-portraits.

Jannis Kounellis (1936—2017), who died suddenly two years ago, was one of the major protagonists of Arte Povera, a movement of radical artists that emerged in Italy in the 1960s. His work is exhibited in many major museums in Europe, Asia and America and is a reference for a new generation of artists. In recent years, Kounellis had exhibited many times in Europe-at La Monnaie de Paris in 2016—but also in Russia, Mexico and China, where each time he created spectacular works in situ. The Prada Foundation has dedicated a retrospective to his work, in Venice until 24 November 2019.

Arnulf Rainer, born in Vienna in 1929, was a major protagonist of the Austrian avant-garde movement in the 1950s and 1960s. He is notably famous for covering images, a technique known as Übermalungen. In 2014, the Albertina Museum in Vienna dedicated a vast retrospective to his work and from 27 September 2019, a new exhibition will celebrate the artist’s 90^th birthday in this museum.

Antoni Tàpies (1923—2012) is one of the major figures of 20^th Century art. Over five decades, he created paintings, sculptures, assemblages and more than one thousand engravings and illustrations. Today, his works are exhibited in the world’s most prestigious museums (MoMA, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum...).

Artists Exhibiting

Jannis Kounellis 1936-2017 Follow +

Arnulf Rainer b. 1929 Follow +

Antoni Tàpies 1923-2012 Follow +

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About the Gallery

Galerie Lelong is located in Paris and New York. It was founded by Jacques Dupin, Daniel Lelong and Jean Frémon.

The Paris gallery has been exhibiting recent works from artists of international standing since 1981. The 1980s were notable for artists who went on to become household names, including Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Francis Bacon, Louise Bourgeois, Eduardo Chillida, Paul Rebeyrolle, Pierre Alechinsky, but also for the next generation of artists: Konrad Klapheck, Jan Dibbets, Donald Judd, Robert Ryman, Richard Serra, Jannis Kounellis, Arnulf Rainer, Nicola De Maria and Jan Voss.

In the 1990s, the gallery hosted artists who represented major movements in contemporary art: Sean Scully, Günther Förg, Andy Goldsworthy, Ernest Pignon-Ernest, Antonio Saura. The gallery also increased international recognition of the work of Ana Mendieta.

Since the turn of the century, Galerie Lelong has accentuated the geographical and expressive diversity of its artists: from sculpture and objects by Jaume Plensa, David Nash, Wolfgang Laib, Kiki Smith, Rebecca Horn, Barry Flanagan to installations by Barthélémy Toguo and Lin Tianmiao, without forgetting painting, namely David Hockney, Robert Motherwell, Kate Shepherd, Nalini Malani, Nancy Spero, Juan Uslé, Leon KossoffLeon Kossoff.

Galerie Lelong has a large publishing department which produces and distributes engravings, lithographs, digital prints and multiple objects, and collates these works in catalogues raisonnés.

It produces monumental sculptures to order for public spaces and private clients.

The gallery is present at the leading international contemporary art fairs (Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, Art Basel Hong Kong, Fiac Paris, Frieze London, Frieze New York, Arco Madrid, Art Brussels, Expo Chicago...).

The directors of the gallery are Jean Frémon, Daniel Lelong and Patrice Cotensin in Paris and Mary Sabbatino in New York.

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Address

38 avenue Matignon
Paris
France

Opening Hours

Tues - Sat, 11am - 7pm

Galerie Lelong

38 avenue Matignon, Paris, France

+33 171 722 699
http://www.galerie-lelong.com

Opening hours

Tues - Sat, 11am - 7pm

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GROUP EXHIBITION

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