Variations On A Theme: Kavi Gupta | 835 W. Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL, 60607

Kavi Gupta Gallery is pleased to present Variations on a Theme, a group exhibition of new paintings by Benjamin Degen, Melissa Gordon, Jason Karolak, Angel Otero, Baker Overstreet and Cordy Ryman.

The title Variations on a Theme is most well known as a musical composition Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn by Brahms and has been used by many musicians and composers as an activity for exploration. This exhibition presents how the idea of variation is transformed within the process of painting.

The paintings in this exhibition tend to illustrate variations on a motif or theme that is characterized by either repetition, or a cohesive gesture that references variants on a specific subject matter. In some instances the work is an obvious progression of a composition, or an abstraction of the picture plane, and in other instances the work explores the intricacies of a conceptual, political or personal narrative that has a concrete relationship with representation and appropriation.

Benjamin Degen (b. 1976 lives and works in NY) solo exhibitions include a forthcoming show at Museum 52, London; Guild & Greyshkul, NY and Kantor/Feuer Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Degen has also been included in the recent group exhibitions at White Columns, NY; dePury & Luxembourg, Zürich; Mary Boone Gallery, NY; Galerie Rodolphe Janssen, Brussels; Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York, NY; D’Amelio Terras, NY and Greater New York at PS1 MOMA.

Melissa Gordon (b. 1981 lives and works in Brussels) has an upcoming solo show at Marianne Boesky Gallery, NY as well as Ancient & Modern, London. Gordon has had solo exhibitions at Juliette Jongma, Amsterdam; Cosar HMT, Düsseldorf; and De Ateliers, Amsterdam. Group exhibitions include Prague Triennale 2008, Kunsthaus Essen, Museum voor Moderne Kunst, Arnhem; Store Gallery, London; Timothy Taylor Gallery, London.

Jason Karolak (b. 1974 lives and works in Chicago) recently had a solo exhibition at Massimo Audiello, NY; and recent group exhibitions at Corbett vs Dempsey, Chicago; Thomas McCormick Gallery, Chicago and the Beverly Arts Center, Chicago.

Angel Otero (b. 1981 lives and works in Chicago) recently won the prestigious Leonore Annenberg Fellowship as a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Otero was included in New Wave, curated by Christian Viveros-Faune, Galeria Leyendecker, Santa Cruz de Tenerife; and exhibitions at the University Museum, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; and Contemporary Art Workshop Gallery, Chicago and Union League Club of Chicago.

Baker Overstreet (b. 1981 lives and works in NY) solo exhibitions include Fredericks & Freiser, NY; Franklin Art Works, Minneapolis, MN; Paolo & Curti, Milan. Selected group exhibitions include Saatchi Gallery, London; China Art Objects, LA; and Sister, LA.

Cordy Ryman (b. 1971 lives and works in NY) solo exhibitions include DCKT Contemporary, NY and Nicole Klagsbrun, NY. Group exhibitions include Thomas Rehbein Galerie, Koln; Esbjerg Museum of Modern Art, Esbjerg, Denmark; PS1 MOMA, NY, CANADA, New York, NY and Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami, FL.