Victoria Gitman

Victoria Gitman paints with oils to reproduce quintessentially feminine items such as costume jewellery, finely beaded clutches or more recently, faux fur bags. Gitman seeks out her subjects at flea markets and vintage sales, selecting alluring items which beckon tactile inspection. Back in the studio, Gitman replicates these items to scale with immense detail, giving each bead or strand of fur ample attention. The emphasis on touch and texture is irresistible when these works are seen in the flesh. Although thoroughly figurative, Gitman's paintings are often linked to the minimalist abstract traditions of the 1960s due to their simplicity.Gitman's work showcases an adoration for beauty and grandeur, with playful nods to the pomp and ceremony found in classical portraiture. However, in her pieces, a queen might be replaced with a necklace or a checkerboard fur bag. This subversive choice of subject matter affords Gitman’s work a somewhat playful quality, as she wrestles with ideas of femininity, dynasty and humour. ...

Since 2009, François Ghebaly has presented an innovative, eclectic program of Los Angeles-based and international artists. With a history of identifying and championing diverse voices and emerging talent, the gallery’s roster has grown to include 27 artists and 2 artist estates, ranging from early career, such as Sharif Farrag and Ludovic Nkoth, to mid-career, like Christine Sun Kim, Meriem Bennani, Kelly Akashi, Farah Al Qasimi, and Genesis Belanger, to well established, including Sayre Gomez, Kathleen Ryan, Neïl Beloufa and Candice Lin as well as underground legends, like Patrick Jackson and Mike Kuchar. The gallery advances the reach of its artists’ visions by publishing exhibition catalogues and producing artist editions. Located since 2013 in a 12,000 square foot warehouse space in Downtown Los Angeles, the gallery is a mainstay of the burgeoning Arts District community, and recently expanded to New York's Lower East Side. François Ghebaly’s program demonstrates a commitment to challenging work across all media and to fostering the progressive, boundary-pushing practices of its artists. ...