Jay Grimm Gallery Archive

For Immediate Release:

Jess von der Ahe Paintings at Jay Grimm Gallery, Chelsea

Jay Grimm Gallery at 505 West 28th Street, New York, will hold an exhibition of paintings by Jess von der Ahe from March 30 through April 29, 2000. There will be a reception at the gallery on Thursday, March 30, from 6-8 P.M.

Von der Ahe's small-scale abstractions rely on saturated color and biomorphic form to create compelling images. Some of her paintings have an iconic air reminiscent of Byzantine church interiors. The salon-style installation of the works will reinforce this sense of overwhelming splendor. Other works are more playful, wherein dots or lines of color are spread across an off-white surface. Overall, von der Ahe's paintings reveal her continual search for beauty and self.

Von der Ahe adds another layer of meaning through her use of unconventional materials: blood and gold leaf. Collected from her own body, the blood is kept a deep, rich color by a protective coat of resin. The glossy surface is complimented by the shine of the reflective gold leaf. Relieving the harmony of burnt reds and yellows are works that do not contain gold, wherein the forms float on a monochrome field.

While the use of blood would seem to be a confrontational act, von der Ahe has no political motives in these works. Rather, she is interested in freeing herself from the history of art by eschewing more traditional mediums, allowing for an entirely personal form of self-expression. By transforming her effluvia into something beautiful and autobiographical, von der Ahe achieves the goal of all painters, namely creating a mirror that conveys her personality.

Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11-6 P.M., and by appointment. Please contact the Gallery at 212.564.7662 for images and additional information.

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View the November 2000 Art in America review