Michael VeneziaPainting

There is no doubt that the works of Michael Venezia, born in Brooklyn in 1935, constitute one of the most idiosyncratic bodies of work in Minimal Art. His “spraypaintings” and “bars” follow entirely the minimalist dictum of a spatialisation of colour and an expansion of pictorial space. While Dan Flavin and Donald Judd, however, chose the opposite path, namely to renounce painting altogether, Michael Venezia has devoted himself entirely to painting. In his work the particular qualities of an aesthetic presence such as only painting can develop are plainly evident: texture, application of paint and processuality. Michael Venezia thus succeeds in performing a special volte under minimalist auspices: he transfers painting into the state of the “specific object” and adds its minimal chapter to the history of Abstract Expressionism. The present catalogue sets out to accord Michael Venezia’s work, from its beginnings to the present day, the standing it deserves. The careful presentation of the works is therefore interspersed with various autobiographical materials as well as an entertaining and highly informative interview with Michael Venezia by Tiffany Bell, who became known as an interpreter of Agnes Martin and Dan Flavin.

Exhibition:
Kunstverein Heilbronn, 6/2 – 29/5/2016