3 Shows by Female Artists to See in NYC This Spring

Yayoi Kusama: I Spend Each Day Embracing Flowers

As always with Yayoi Kusama, if you plan on going to see her latest exhibition at David Zwirner, you’ll most likely have to wait on line. But, once again, as always, it’s worth the wait. This highly anticipated exhibition is a mesmerizing celebration of boundless imagination and unyielding creativity with new paintings, new sculptures, and a new Infinity Mirror Room. The show is spread across all three of Zwirner’s gallery spaces and is said to be one of her largest gallery shows yet. 

Stepping into the gallery, visitors are enveloped by a symphony of vibrant colors and intricate patterns, as Kusama’s paintings and sculptures exude a sense of boundless energy and joy. The exhibition’s centerpiece is the awe inspiring Infinity Mirror Room, where one is transported into ann ethereal realm of infinite reflections and blooming flowers. The exhibition title comes from three monumental flower sculptures, each titled I Spend Each Day Embracing Flowers, that are both cartoonish and monumental. Also on view are three giant pumpkins that undulate around the wall of the gallery, enveloping visitors pass through.

David Zwirner Gallery, May 11 - July 21, 2023

For more information: https://www.davidzwirner.com/exhibitions/2023/yayoi-kusama-i-spend-each-day-embracing-flowers  

Jaune Quick-To-See Smith: Memory Map

Step into the captivating world of Jaune Quick-to-See Smith's exhibition at the Whitney Museum, and prepare to be moved by the profound depth and resonance of her work. Smith's art exudes a raw and unapologetic power that confronts the viewer with the complex histories and ongoing struggles of Native American communities. Her masterful use of mixed media, from paintings to collage, reveals a rich tapestry of narratives, weaving together personal stories, cultural symbols, and political commentary. Smith fearlessly tackles issues of land rights, environmentalism, and cultural appropriation, challenging the viewer to confront uncomfortable truths and reexamine their own perceptions. With a keen eye for symbolism and a profound understanding of the power of visual storytelling, Smith effortlessly combines beauty and subversion to create a visceral and thought-provoking experience. Her works resonate with a sense of urgency, demanding attention and empathy for marginalized voices. This exhibition serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of diverse perspectives in the art world, while showcasing Smith's undeniable talent and her unwavering commitment to social justice. A must-see for anyone seeking a transformative and enlightening artistic encounter.

Whitney Museum of American Art, April 19 - August 13, 2023

For more information: https://whitney.org/exhibitions/jaune-quick-to-see-smith 

Hortensia Mi Kafchin: Years of Bad Hair

At Hortensia Mi Kafchin’s first solo show with PPOW, her avatars are set in paintings of collage-like worlds that meld together Surrealism, technology, and fantasy in a contemporary mindset. Mi Kafchin is a Romanian artist who grew up in a post-Communist and post-Chernobyl Romania. At the time in Romania, there was an influx of Western culture that was set alongside the traditional Eastern Orthodoxy. Mi Kafchin was inspired by this melding of cultures, and her paintings can be read as a journal chronicling a story or dream. In the painting, Years of Bad Hair (2022-23) we are met with the backside of a character, perhaps a self-portrait of the artist, who has technicolor angel wings. She is surrounded by a plethora of hair and beauty products: from a box of tissues to nail polish, a hair dryer and scissors, boxes of pills, presumably hair growth ones, and shampoo, the main character clearly struggles to find a cure to her scraggly hair that cascades down her back. With her brownish-yellow hand, she holds a hairbrush and turns to it, almost as if it were a mirror or looking glass.

P.P.O.W. Gallery, 390 Broadway, 2nd Floor, April 28 - June 3, 2023

For more information: https://www.ppowgallery.com/exhibitions/hortensia-mi-kafchin