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Group Show
Planes and Surfaces
July 19-August 23, 2008
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The Frank Lloyd Gallery is pleased to present a four-person exhibition focusing on geometric planes of color and the interaction of refined surface techniques. In the evolution of abstract painting and sculpture, the use of geometric form with a limited palette is widespread, ranging from the Russian Suprematist compositions to minimal paintings. In this new exhibit, three Los Angeles based artists and one Dutch artist address planes and surfaces in reductive abstract works.

Of the four artists, Larry Bell has the longest history with minimal abstract painting. His early shaped canvases, which preceded his glass cubes, addressed the issues of geometric form, containment, and surface. Those paintings led directly to the iconic glass cubes, which were included in the landmark exhibitions "The Responsive Eye" in 1965 at the Museum of Modern Art, and "Primary Structures" in 1966 at the Jewish Museum. Larry Bell, best known for his investigations of the complexities of highly refined surface treatments of glass, has created an extensive series of recent "Vapor Drawings". Using the coating process on sheets of paper, Bell fuses vaporized metallic particles into subtle gradations. The works are also infused with rich color relationships, and saturated with metallic iridescence.

The large-scale abstract paintings of James Hayward have been described by the critic Dave Hickey as "stepping into liquid." Hayward's monochromatic canvases display the fluid and malleable properties of oil paint, and present a rich, undulating yet unified field. Hayward's work has been exhibited extensively throughout the U.S. James Hayward was born in San Francisco in 1943. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts at San Diego State, and then studied at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Washington, where he received his Master of Fine Arts in 1972.

Scot Heywood's paintings relate directly to the Minimal art of the late 20th century, as well as the origins of geometric abstraction in such artists as Kasimir Malevich and Piet Mondrian. Heywood's exquisite attention to detail and presentation are evident in the careful placement of individual panels, as well as the refined diagonal layering of paint. Scot Heywood is self-taught, and frequently exhibits in Southern California.

Wouter Dam demonstrates a remarkable ability to combine sleek and undulating ceramic forms with soft and sensual color. He fuses planes and bulges, creating a compact small sculpture that has equal interest in interior and exterior form. The work seems to spring from several sources: classical vase form, reductive abstraction, and the natural world. The result is a marvelous and minimal blend of these things, a simple and elegant architecture. The artist was born in 1957 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. He studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Department of Ceramics. His work has been exhibited widely throughout the world, including Germany, Japan, France and his native Holland. His work is in the collection of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Musee des Arts Decoratif in Paris, and the Detroit Institute of Art.