“THE ILLUSION OF MOTION” AT PERROTIN NEW YORK

Nancy GRAVES

Nancy Graves (b. Pittsfield, MA 1939 — d. New York, 1995) was a prominent twentieth-century American artist who worked across disciplines, including sculpture, painting, drawing, and film. With a specific interest in archaeology, cartography, and natural history, Graves carefully researched and then translated scientific information into an abstract gestural language by reducing sources to their essential forms. Graves’ varied interests led her to explore fields not strictly tied to the realm of art, generating work that sought out new languages of expression. Combining her use of unconventional materials with a keen eye for formal artistic composition, Graves' practice has constantly defied categorization while staying relevant through time. The exhibition at Perrotin, titled "The Illusion of Motion", explores the trajectory of the artist’s practice over the course of two decades, unfolding chronologically from 1971 until the mid—80s, and including never before seen paintings.