Al Freeman, "Untitled," 20204. Vinyl and polyfill; 63 x 81 1/2 x 5 in (160 x 207 x 12.7 cm).
NEW YORK, NY.- Venus Over Manhattan and 56 Henry are presenting a collaborative, two-venue exhibition of new work by Al Freeman. On view simultaneously at 39 Great Jones St. and 56 Henry St., the exhibition marks the first solo presentation dedicated to the artist’s drawing practice. Featuring recent drawings of book covers and album covers, the exhibition is titled Covers: Drawings 2023–2024, referencing both the subjects depicted and Freeman's appropriative strategy of reinterpreting existing works. The exhibition is on view at both 39 Great Jones Street and 56 Henry Street through May 6th, 2024. Covers marks the artist's first solo presentation with Venus Over Manhattan, and her fourth with 56 Henry.
The presentation at Venus Over Manhattan features drawings of book covers and two soft sculptures—an extension cord and a tray of colored pencil. Reflecting a deflationary impulse in her practice, the pencils reference the materials used in her drawings, and the cord functions as an exaggerated line drawing in space.
The presentation at 56 Henry features a series of drawings, in a uniformly smaller format, that feature images of album covers and book covers. The drawings on view at 56 Henry have been selected by Mel Ottenberg, Editor in Chief of Interview Magazine, and Naomi Fry, staff writer at The New Yorker.
Al Freeman was born in 1981 in Toronto, Canada. She received her BA from Concordia University, and her MFA from the Yale University School of Art. Her work has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions, including recent presentations at 56 Henry, New York; One Trick Pony, Los Angeles; Grice Bench, Los Angeles; Ceysson Benetiere, Paris; Carl Kostyál, Stockholm, and Bortolami, New York. Freeman's work frequently features in group exhibitions both stateside and abroad, including recent presentations at International Waters, New York; Tif Sigfrids, Athens; Office Baroque, Antwerp; Analog Diary, Beacon; Broadway Gallery, New York; Embajada, San Juan; CUE Foundation, New York; Harper's, East Hampton; and Canada, New York. In 2023, Nieves published a zine featuring work from the artist's series of "Covers," curated by Dan Nadel. Freeman's work receives frequent coverage in major publications, including recent pieces in The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Burlington Contemporary. Freeman lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
