Anna Weyant

Anna Weyant is the first monograph published by Gagosian that focuses on the New York-based artist known for her precise figures with creamy curves and soft beauty. With a dark sense of humor, Weyant unpicks the tropes and traditions of art historical representation, interrupting masculine expectations to absurd and excruciating effect. The resonance of art history and the effect of doubling are discussed in essays by John Elderfield and Yvonne Owens. Naomi Fry describes the potential violence of the double and the menace of everyday objects in Weyant's world, which she compares to a velvet-lined jewel box softly sealed shut.

Format: Hardback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 16 April 2024
Publisher: Rizzoli International Publications

Anna Weyant, a New York-based artist renowned for her captivating figures with their luscious curves and ethereal beauty, has unveiled her inaugural monograph through Gagosian. This captivating tome delves into the artist's exploration of the delicate interplay between feminine sexuality, purity, tragedy, and comedy. Weyant employs a dark sense of humor to challenge traditional art historical representations, subverting masculine expectations and yielding often absurd and excruciating results. Her artistic lens is particularly attuned to the complexities of adolescence, capturing young females in moments of intimate peculiarity and catastrophic circumstances.

In essays by John Elderfield and Yvonne Owens, the resonance of art history and the impact of doubling are explored in depth. Elderfield delves into the enigmatic realm of the uncanny, examining the strange familiarity between real figures and porcelain dolls or automatons. Owens highlights Weyant's reimagining of pictorial devices, such as still life and seductive symbols of vanitas and memento mori. Naomi Fry delves into the potential violence of the double and the menacing presence of everyday objects in Weyant's world, comparing it to a velvet-lined jewel box gently sealed shut. With a wry reference to pop culture, Fry asserts the subtle differences and multifaceted perspectives that reveal Weyant's virtuosity and the richness of female experience.

In a captivating conversation between Weyant and Edward Steed, the artist and the acclaimed cartoonist for the New Yorker delve into the awkwardness of fame, the sweet spot of comedy, and the indescribable nature of a great work of art. This insightful dialogue provides a deeper understanding of Weyant's artistic vision and her unique perspective on the world.

Overall, Anna Weyant: The First Monograph by Gagosian offers a profound exploration of the artist's captivating universe, showcasing her ability to intertwine feminine sexuality, tragedy, comedy, and art historical references. Through her intricate figures and subversive humor, Weyant challenges societal norms and invites viewers to contemplate the complexities of the human experience. This monograph serves as a testament to Weyant's talent and her contribution to the art world.

Weight: 1670g
Dimension: 314 x 256 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780847832491