David Lynch hasn’t had a solo exhibition in New York since 1989, but that hasn’t stopped him from creating his darkly surreal artworks ripe with absurdist humor, text paired with neurotic, child-like drawings, and nightmarish visions of the human form. The director’s exhibition opens today at Tilton Gallery and runs until April 14. A reception with Lynch takes place on Friday, March 16 from 6-8 PM. Tilton was kind enough to share several images from the show, which we’ve posted for you past the break.
We don’t recommend listening to the filmmaker’s new album Crazy Clown Time while browsing his mixed media pieces, unless you enjoy battling night terrors. Just like his films, the mundane is paired with the bizarre, with a healthy dose of twisted humor. Apart from being unnerving, there’s something deeply emotional (uncomfortably so) about each creation. Small-town fishing trips, baseball games, and Santa Claus become wild and weirdly unpredictable. There’s also a peek at Lynch’s furniture design — something he’s displayed in several of his film projects, including Lost Highway. The gallery will also screen a 42-second short from the Twin Peaks co-creator.
Right now 2014 seems like a terribly long wait for Lynch’s retrospective exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts — where he attended school in the 1970s and discovered his love for film — but thankfully these rare and intimate gallery appearances are more than enough to tide us over. Head to Tilton’s website for more information, and preview the show below.
David Lynch, Bob’s Second Dream, 2011, mixed media on cardboard, 72 x 108 inches. Courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York.
David Lynch, Boy Lights Fire, 2011, mixed media on cardboard, 82 x 130 inches. Courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York.
David Lynch, No Santa Claus, 2011, mixed media, 82 x 82 inches. Courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York.
David Lynch, Figure #1-Blue Balls, 2009, mixed media on wood panel, 30 ¼ x 34 inches. Courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York.
David Lynch, Fisherman’s Dream with Steam Iron, 2012, oil and mixed media on wood panel, 27 x 31 inches. Courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York.
David Lynch, I See my Love, 2012, oil and mixed media on wood panel, 27 x 31 inches. Courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York.
David Lynch, All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth, 2012, grease pencil, charcoal, varnish, tempera on paper, 20 ¾ x 29 ½ inches. Courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York.
David Lynch, Truck Lifts Rock by Tower, 2012 grease pencil, charcoal, varnish, tempera on paper, 20 ¾ x 29 ½ inches. Courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York.
David Lynch, Distorted Nude 12 (series 1), 1999, archival digital print, 17 x 17 inches, edition 3 of 11. Courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York.
David Lynch, Distorted Nude 16 (series 1), 1999, archival digital print, 17 x 17 inches, edition 3 of 11. Courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York.
David Lynch, Gray Amber Lamp, 2011, cold rolled steel, plaster, tint, resin, 71 x 37 x 12 inches. Courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York.