URGENT UPDATE: The highly anticipated exhibition, Jenny Saville: The Anatomy of Painting, is set to open at the Modern Art Museum in the United States, organized in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery in London. This marks the first major museum showcase dedicated to Saville, one of the world’s leading figure painters, and will be overseen by Chief Curator Andrea Karnes.
Scheduled to debut on October 14, 2023, and running through January 7, 2024, the exhibition features fifty significant works from Saville’s illustrious career, spanning from the early 1990s to today. This is a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts to engage with Saville’s groundbreaking approach to figurative painting, which has profoundly influenced the genre.
Saville, who gained recognition following her acclaimed degree show at the Glasgow School of Art, is known for creating visceral portraits using thick layers of paint. Her artistic process embodies an energetic and bodily experience, pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms. The exhibition will include key artworks that highlight her connection to art history and her exploration of female beauty through a contemporary lens.
In a significant twist, the exhibition will showcase new ‘portraits’ rendered in fluorescent, saturated tones, examining the relationship between physical and virtual imagery in today’s image-saturated culture. This pioneering series is poised to challenge viewers’ perceptions and spark meaningful conversations around beauty standards and representation.
The exhibition is a collaborative effort with Saville and includes works borrowed from prestigious public and private collections worldwide. Art lovers can also look forward to a comprehensive publication featuring contributions from notable writers such as Emanuele Coccia, Dr. Nicholas Cullinan, John Elderfield, and Roxane Gay, alongside a conversation between Saville and curator Sarah Howgate.
This exhibition represents a major cultural moment, reflecting Saville’s ongoing impact on contemporary art and her role in the reinvigoration of figurative painting. As anticipation builds, art aficionados are encouraged to mark their calendars for this not-to-be-missed event, which promises to be both visually stunning and intellectually engaging.
Stay tuned for more updates as the opening date approaches!
