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beautiful deborah butterfield

Friday, April 17, 2009


photo courtesy L.A. Louver


Last night I attended the reception for Deborah Butterfield's new show at L.A. Louver. I haven't seen a solo show of her work since her Oakland show many years ago, although I've encountered many of her pieces through the years at different museums and in private collections. I've always followed Deborah Butterfield's work and admire her tremendously. Now that I've actually ridden horses and been around them, I appreciate her sculptures even more, although the artist claims her work is not about horses at all, but rather is a tabula rasa to which the viewer gives meaning.




Monekanaã, cast bronze; photo courtesy L.A. Louver


Deborah Butterfield works outside the trends of the art world, and ultimately this is my favorite kind of artist no matter what the medium. Someone who can successfully create their own world at this level always grabs my attention, and when I resonate with the work it's even better, sort of a heavenly feeling of appreciation.



This particular piece is large, deeply glossy and almost heart-breakingly beautiful in person. I enjoyed this show more than any I've ever been to at this gallery and although I wasn't there for long as we went on to dinner, I'd like to make another trip back to spend more time looking at the life size works and the smaller bronzes.

The show runs through May 9 at L.A. Louver, 45 N. Venice Blvd, Venice, CA.

5 Comments:

Blogger vicki archer said...

How wonderful - what an inspiration. Such beautiful work, xv.

9:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

here horsey horsey, here horsey...

12:46 PM  
Blogger Rico said...

I've always enjoyed her work. I seem to come upon it in chance encounters, which only adds to the spiritual element already at play. Very materials driven, as if at times the horses emerge rather than being "sculpted"

Great photos.

10:56 AM  
Anonymous andrea said...

heartbreakingly beautiful is right

11:34 AM  
Blogger Mary Jo from TrustYourStyle said...

I agree Christopher, the times I've run into her work, it's like a sign. And the photo so does not do justice to the Danuta piece, it blew me away.

12:22 PM  

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