Despite his much-publicised retirement in 2012, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan has far from disappeared. There are several quirky collaborations on the go, like the artzine ToiletPaper, created with photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari. And now the provocateur is back in the gallery spotlight, thanks to 'Cosa Nostra', a selling show of the artist's work newly opened in New York. Displayed at two locations - the Upper East Side galleries Venus Over Manhattan and Sotheby's S|2 - the works were gathered from private collections, with prices expected to start at $30,000 and soar to $2 million.
Touted as the largest and most comprehensive showing of the artist's work since his Guggenheim retrospective in 2011, 'Cosa Nostra' showcases many of Cattelan's most memorable pieces. There are animal-centric creations, like the 'Untitled' sitting cow with motorcross handles for horns, and the Italian pavilion-inspired 'Turisti' (1997), which sees taxidermy pigeons scattered throughout the gallery. The more scandalous sculptures pose likenesses of JFK, Hitler and the Pope in all sorts of controversial situations. Both venues offer a rare chance to catch Cattelan's famous works in the flesh.
Venus Over Manhattan has created a suspenseful environment inspired by Marcel Duchamp's 'Door, 11 rue Larrey' to present its pieces. The space is split into seven rooms, with dark-painted walls creating mysterious chambers, each containing a single piece. The works are visible through portholes, windows and keyholes set within different wooden doors, heightening the sense of drama already palpable in the works. By contrast the collection at S|2 is presented in a room lined with mirrors that magnify the twisted, surreal nature of Cattelan's oeuvre.
To cap things off, visitors can see the trailer for the documentary Maurizio Cattelan: The Movie, 15 years in the making. Directed by Maura Axelrod, who has been filming Cattelan since 2000, the intimate portrait of the artist features interviews with close family and friends and exclusive archival footage - and sheds light on the personal origins of Cattelan's many themes. The film is scheduled for release in the summer of 2015.
The space is split into seven rooms, with dark-painted walls creating mysterious chambers, each containing a single piece. Pictured is 'Now', 2004
The works are visible through portholes, windows and keyholes set within different wooden doors, heightening the sense of drama already palpable in the works
'Frank and Jamie', 2002
'Jean-Pierre', 1999
By contrast the collection at Sotheby's S|2 gallery is presented in a room lined with mirrors that magnify the twisted, surreal nature of Cattelan's oeuvre
There are animal-centric creations, like the 'Untitled' sitting cow (pictured) with motorcross handles for horns, and the Italian pavilion-inspired 'Turisti' (1997), which sees taxidermy pigeons scattered throughout the gallery
Touted as the largest and most comprehensive showing of the artist's work since his Guggenheim retrospective in 2011, 'Cosa Nostra' showcases many of Cattelan's most memorable pieces such as 'Untitled', 2007 (left) and 'Ave Maria', 2007 (right)
'Hollywood', 2001 (background) and 'La Nona Ora', 2003 (on table in foreground)
Both venues offer a rare chance to catch Cattelan's famous works in the flesh
3876498296001
Watch the trailer for the upcoming documentary: The Movie, an intimate portrait of the artist features interviews with close family and friends and exclusive archival footage
ADDRESS
Venus Over Manhattan
980 Madison Avenue
3rd Floor
New York
-
Revolutionary Apple icon designer Susan Kare unveils a playful jewellery and objet collaboration with Asprey StudioAsprey Studio's new collection, Esc Keys, brings digital artworks by Susan Kare to life
-
What is the role of fragrance in contemporary culture, asks a new exhibition at 10 Corso ComoMilan concept store 10 Corso Como has partnered with London creative agency System Preferences to launch Olfactory Projections 01
-
Jack White's Third Man Records opens a Paris pop-upJack White's immaculately-branded record store will set up shop in the 9th arrondissement this weekend
-
20 years on, ‘The Gates’ makes a digital return to Central ParkThe 2005 installation ‘The Gates’ by Christo and Jeanne-Claude marks its 20th anniversary with a digital comeback, relived through the lens of your phone
-
In ‘The Last Showgirl’, nostalgia is a drug like any otherGia Coppola takes us to Las Vegas after the party has ended in new film starring Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl
-
‘American Photography’: centuries-spanning show reveals timely truthsAt the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Europe’s first major survey of American photography reveals the contradictions and complexities that have long defined this world superpower
-
Miami’s new Museum of Sex is a beacon of open discourseThe Miami outpost of the cult New York destination opened last year, and continues its legacy of presenting and celebrating human sexuality
-
Sundance Film Festival 2025: The films we can't wait to watchSundance Film Festival, which runs 23 January - 2 February, has long been considered a hub of cinematic innovation. These are the ones to watch from this year’s premieres
-
What is RedNote? Inside the social media app drawing American users ahead of the US TikTok banDownloads of the Chinese-owned platform have spiked as US users look for an alternative to TikTok, which faces a ban on national security grounds. What is Rednote, and what are the implications of its ascent?
-
Architecture and the new world: The Brutalist reframes the American dreamBrady Corbet’s third feature film, The Brutalist, demonstrates how violence is a building block for ideology
-
Inside Luna Luna: the amusement park designed by artists lands in New York‘Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy’ – featuring rides by Basquiat, Lichtenstein, Hockney, Haring, and Dalí – has opened at The Shed
