Running now through May 13th at Untitled Space in Tribeca, Rebeccca Leveille’s beautiful solo show is titled “The End of Love.”
Her artist statement asks “what comes next after the delusions of ‘love’?,”and her body of work answers that in ways both literal and figurative, and using the construct of the work as part of the answer. While the bulk of the paintings feature nude figures in some way, the true end of love in these works is not necessarily a physical response. The piece titled “The End of Love” has little cherubs floating about, a peacock peaks out from behind a naked woman in the simply titled “Peacocks,” while the clever “The Panel Discussion (The Lovers)” has a well healed group seemingly evaluating the love-making of a couple where the woman is nude and the man clad in armor.
It’s all very lovely and surreal, but then there is a real-world detail that juts out: a Kirkland water bottle, placed front and center in at least two of the works. Like a random character in a David Lynch movie, it could be the key to the plot, or mean nothing at all. Beyond any interpretation though is the craft; the work is gorgeous with thick swirls of paint, vibrant colors, and touches like 24k gold leaf. Find out more at Rleveille.com or Untitled-space.com.
– Jason Jaskot