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Dana Shutz at The Hepworth Wakefield, 2013. Photo by Stuart Whipps.
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Dana Schutz

12 Oct 2013 - 02 Feb 2014

The much-anticipated first UK solo exhibition for Dana Schutz, one of the most exciting young contemporary artists in America. A significant proportion of new paintings and drawings featured in the display of approximately 20 canvases that built on her highly personal and memorable painterly explorations.

Renowned for her vibrantly coloured figurative paintings and tactile brushwork, Schutz creates imaginary worlds to explore hypothetical and absurd situations. Applying her often dark and deadpan humour, Schutz mines the peculiarities of the human condition, describing scenes of hopelessness, loss of control, anti-social behaviour, human capability and incapability.

Her work is a comic take on the unfortunate photographic snapshot rather drawing on the painting tradition. Schutz uses her medium to embellish the horror of embarrassment, exaggerating a moment of inopportune affliction or paying tribute to everyday or insignificant moments.

This exhibition toured to Kestnergesellschaft, Hannover, Germany (28 August–26 October 2014).

On 16 January 2014, Dana Schutz discussed her first UK solo exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield and the state of contemporary painting with Turner Prize-nominated artist Dexter Dalwood. The In Conversation event was filmed and broadcast live by This Is Tomorrow.

Dana Shutz

Dana Shutz & Dexter Dalwood

Dana Shutz at The Hepworth Wakefield, 2013. Photo by Stuart Whipps.
Dana Shutz at The Hepworth Wakefield, 2013. Photo by Stuart Whipps.