February 2025 brings a series of noteworthy exhibitions for lovers of minimalist art. In New York, Peter Freeman Inc. presents for the first time Myron Stout’s pared-down charcoal drawings from the 1940s and 1950s. Simultaneously, Galerie Lelong in Paris focuses on rarely seen small-format works by German artist Günther Förg. Galerie ETC in Paris pairs the narrative richness and formal reduction of Max Wechsler and Mathieu Bonardet in a group show.
In London, Cadogan Gallery unveils new works by Richard Zinon, while Lisson Gallery explores Peter Joseph’s early evolution toward geometric abstraction. The touring exhibition “lucent”, curated by David Quinn, stops in Plymouth and presents small-scale works by twelve international artists who dissolve the boundaries between painting and sculpture. And finally, Alzueta Gallery in Barcelona invites visitors to delve into the interplay of form and color in Liam Stevens’ latest exhibition, “Eventide.”
These are my favorites for this month. If you want to explore all shows, click here.
Myron Stout – Charcoal Drawings
New York, Peter Freeman Inc.
16 January → 01 March 2025
In New York, Gallery Peter Freeman Inc. presents a solo exhibition of the abstract artist Myron Stout. On display are over 30 previously unseen works from the late 1940s and early 1950s, showcasing his progression from figurative studies to reduced, abstract compositions. Myron Stout (1905-1987) was an important abstract artist of his time, whose works bridge the gap between abstract expressionism and minimalism. The exhibition provides insights into Stout’s slow, meticulous creative process, which often spanned decades.
More information here.
Günther Förg : Paires
Paris, Galerie Lelong & Co
16 January → 08 March 2025
Galerie Lelong & Co in Paris presents the exhibition “Günther Förg Paires”, which focuses on the artist’s lesser-known small formats. These were created between 2002 and 2007 as replicas of his larger works. When his paintings were sent out for exhibitions, he sometimes produced small replicas, loose canvases in frames or wooden panels mounted on a second panel, in order to preserve their presence in his studio. The exhibition was realized in collaboration with the artist’s estate and Hauser & Wirth and offers insights into Förg’s creative process.
More information here
Max Wechsler, Mathieu Bonardet: En vis-à-vis
Paris, Galerie etc.
01 February → 01 March 2025
Galerie ETC Paris presents a group exhibition by Max Wechsler (1925 – 2020) and Mathieu Bonardet (b. 1989). Both artists use reduction to open up deeper narrative and emotional levels. Wechsler deals with language, memory and history by stripping texts and materials of their original meaning. Bonardet works with graphic lines that find both physical and metaphorical expression, exploring a balance between density and emptiness. Their works address materiality, memory, and human as well as social experiences, combining abstraction with intense expressiveness.
More Information here.
Richard Zinon: Peut Être
London, Cadogan Gallery
13 February → 29 March 2025
Cadogan Gallery presents the exhibition “Peut Être” by Richard Zinon. The works, created in the artist’s new studio in Brittany, explore the dynamic between creation and reaction, between moment and possibility. With contrasting colors and haunting compositions, Zinon invites viewers to discover the transitions and resonances in the “maybe”. The exhibition marks the first solo show at the new gallery on Harriet Street.
More information here.
Peter Joseph: The Early Works
London, Lisson Gallery
07 February → 15 March 2025
Lisson Gallery in London presents the 17th solo exhibition of British artist Peter Joseph. The exhibition features 12 paintings and previously unpublished sketchbooks from the years 1964 to 1978. It traces Joseph’s evolution from colorful, geometric compositions to the muted rectangular paintings that defined his later career. The exhibition highlights the artist’s influence on contemporary art and his dedication to creating spaces transformed through the power of light and color.
More information here.
lucent, a touring exhibition
Plymouth, The University of Plymouth
18 January → 15 March 2025
The touring exhibition “lucent” is a remarkable project curated by Irish artist David Quinn that presents small-scale works by twelve national and international artists. The show is characterized by a fine sensitivity for materials and the quality of line. Quinn selected works that span a variety of styles and mediums, blurring the distinction between painting and sculpture. Some featured artworks are underpinned by an engaging ambiguity that challenges the viewer to draw their own interpretations.
Artists on display include Charles Brady, Niamh Clarke, Vincent Hawkins, Hiroyuki Hamada, Tjibbe Hooghiemstra, Jamie Mills, Janet Mullarney, Helen O’Leary, David Quinn himself, Seamus Quinn, Sean Sullivan and John Van Oers. All artists share a subtle, often playful understanding of art, characterized by personal expression and a penchant for experimentation.
“Lucent” has been shown at various venues since July 2023. More information here and here.
Liam Stevens: Eventide
Barcelona, Alzueta Gallery Turó
13 February → 14 March 2025
Alzueta Gallery presents Eventide, a solo exhibition by British artist Liam Stevens. In Eventide, the abstract paintings of Liam Stevens explore the exchange of form, modulation, time, and color. Expanding upon his ongoing investigation into the materiality of painting, Stevens also presents a new body of works on jute, to be exhibited for the first time.
More information here
