5 Spectacular Summer Group Shows in New York City

Not very long ago, many New York galleries stopped organizing summer group shows. Historically, they had almost always been an essential, annual programmatic happening for commercial art galleries throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. To their discredit, though, these shows sometimes felt a bit like afterthoughts; galleries seemed to dig out unsold inventory from years past in the hopes of attracting a city vacation-goer, so the bar was often fairly low for inventiveness or curatorial merit. However, the galleries that have stuck with this tradition have proven the worth these exhibitions bring to the art ecosystem.

We picked five of our favourite group shows on view this summer.

West Coast Women of Abstract Expressionism

Berry Campbell
June 1 – July 1, 2023

Installation View, West Coast Women of Abstract Expressionism, Berry Campbell, New York. Courtesy Berry Campbell, New York. Photo by Roz Akin.

A group show at Berry Campbell in Chelsea celebrates the work of 24 women artists living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area and the impact each of them has had on the history of abstract expressionism in the United States. The 1940s and 1950s marked a moment of significant transformation in American art, often characterized by East Coast artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, who broke away from representational art to embrace nonrepresentational forms. But there was an equally experimental and forward-thinking group of women artists in California who were also expanding the possibilities of what art looked like and represented. Made mainly during the 1950s and ’60s, the works on view provide a glimpse into the inventive ways in which these artists worked and pushed the limits of art and were pivotal players at the earliest stages of the AbEx movement working its way through the U.S. The exhibition is accompanied by a wonderful essay by historian Frances Lazare about the historical context and significance of these works.

Beach

Curated by Danny Moynihan
June 23 – August 5, 2023
Nino Mier Gallery | New York

Photo courtesy of Nino Mier Gallery.

Photo courtesy of Nino Mier Gallery.

L.A.’s Nino Mier Gallery, which opened two spaces in New York earlier this year, is presenting a two-part exhibition that celebrates the shoreline, and the inspiration and recreation it has provided for centuries. Curated by Danny Moynihan, the show brings together a remarkable mix of established, midcareer, and emerging artists, all of whom have contributed fantastic works. Spanning mediums and scales, the works in this double-header show come together seamlessly and provide exactly what you want from a summer group show. There is conceptual depth for those curious to delve into the show’s origins, as well as aesthetically pleasing works for all to enjoy.

Good Sports

Auxier Kline
June 8 – July 28

Emily Royer, “Divers”, acrylic on paper, 21 x 25 inches framed, 2023

Hank Ehrenfried, “Stretching Demonstrations”, oil on linen, 30 x 24 inches, 2023

The newest gallery on our list, Auxier Kline, has a great exhibition of works by artists exploring the connections and intersections between sports and athleticism through contemporary art. Each artist approaches the exhibition’s premise by depicting or positioning the physical forms of athletes and the action of competitive sports in remarkable ways. The physical and psychological toll of competition and the preparation that comes with it are visualized at various stages of the process, which are compelling to see in the gallery space.

Ugly Painting

Nahmad Contemporary
Organized by Eleanor Cayre and Dean Kissick
June 26 – August 26, 2023

Install View © Tom Powel Imaging

George Condo The Mad Dentist, 2021 Acrylic and oilstick on canvas 52 x 47 in (132.08 x 119.38 cm) © George Condo. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth.

Exhibition makers Eleanor Cayre and Dean Kissick are back together and have created an impressive show with an exciting lineup of artists. Ugly Painting challenges conventional notions of beauty and aesthetic value by showcasing artworks that embrace imperfections and unusual approaches to creating forms in space. The works from well-known figures such as Carroll Dunham, Nicole Eisenman, and George Condo combined with the comfortable space each artwork is given in the gallery makes for a pleasant viewing experience.

Dreaming of Eden

Timothy Taylor
1 June – 14 July 2023, New York

Natalia González Martín We Lovers Fear Everything, 2022 Oil on wood 33 x 23 5/8 in. (84 x 60 cm) T0013992

Penny Slinger Mermaid’s Tale, 1976-1977 Collage on board 32 x 34 1/2 in. (81.3 x 87.6 cm) T0013998

The U.K.’s Timothy Taylor, which recently opened a gorgeous new space in Tribeca, has organized a remarkable exhibition of works by women artists exploring themes of transgression and escapism. The show includes artists from the gallery’s program and beyond, but all seem right at home here. Their works examine sexuality, violence, anarchy, and solitude, and the results are exceptional. Figurative bodies, abstract gestures, and sculptural forms commingle in this impressive, thoughtful show.