Vija Celmins

November 2021—June 2022

In the Gallery, Glenstone presented a selection of paintings, drawings, mezzotints, and sculptures by Latvian-born American artist Vija Celmins (b. 1938) from the 1960s through the 2010s. Long inspired by everyday items and scenery observed in the world around her, Celmins is acclaimed for making photorealistic depictions of natural phenomena such as oceans, stars, spiderwebs, and rocks, which she creates with meticulous attention to detail and texture. This exhibition marked the artist’s first solo presentation in the Washington, DC area since 1979.

Exhibition Preview

    • Vase
      Vija Celmins
      Vase, 2017-2018
      Celmins 2017
      Vase, 2017-2018
      oil on canvas
      18 x 13 inches (46 x 33 cm)
      © Vija Celmins, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
      Vija Celmins https://www.glenstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CELMv_Vase-577x800.jpg Thin cracks run over a painting that describes the surface of a vase
    • Reverse Night Sky #4
      Vija Celmins
      Reverse Night Sky #4, 2015-2017
      Celmins 2015
      Reverse Night Sky #4, 2015-2017
      oil on canvas 
      54 x 66 inches (137 x 168 cm)
      © Vija Celmins, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
      Photo: courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
       courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
      Vija Celmins https://www.glenstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CELMv_GF_ReverseNightSky-1067x800.jpg A rectangular canvas painted white has been splattered with black dots of various, but tiny, sizes.
    • Blackboard Tableau #14
      Vija Celmins
      Blackboard Tableau #14, 2011-2015
      Celmins 2011
      Blackboard Tableau #14, 2011-2015
      one found object and one made object: alkyd oil, acrylic, and pastel on wood
      each 18 ¾ x 24 x 2 ½ inches (48 x 61 x 6 cm)
      © Vija Celmins, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
      Photo: courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
       courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
      Vija Celmins https://www.glenstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CELMv_GF_BlackboardTableau14-1067x800.jpg Two shabby-looking framed blackboards, lightly dusted with green-tinted pastel, are mounted on a white wall.
    • A Painting in Six Parts
      Vija Celmins
      A Painting in Six Parts, 1986-87/2012-16
      Celmins 1986
      A Painting in Six Parts, 1986-87/2012-16
      oil on canvas, six parts
      15 ⅛ x 254 inches (38 x 645 cm) overall
      © Vija Celmins, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
      Vija Celmins https://www.glenstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CELMv_PaintingInSixParts_Hero-1067x800.jpg A series of six gray canvases hang on a wall in a gallery with a stone floor.
    • Pencil
      Vija Celmins
      Pencil, 1968
      Celmins 1968
      Pencil, 1968
      acrylic on canvas on wood
      3 x 66 x 3 inches (8 x 168 x 8 cm)
      © Vija Celmins, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
      Vija Celmins https://www.glenstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CELMv_Pencil_Install.jpg A sculpture of an over-sized gray pencil sits on a stone gallery floor.
    • Forest Fire
      Vija Celmins
      Forest Fire, 1965-1966
      Celmins 1965
      Forest Fire, 1965-1966
      oil on canvas
      25 x 36 inches (65 x 91 cm)
      © Vija Celmins, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
      Photo: Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art.com
       Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art.com
      Vija Celmins https://www.glenstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SM_CELMv_HERO_2021-1101x800.jpg

    News + Press

    Glenstone Museum Announces Major Survey of Works by Jeff Wall as Part of its Summer/Fall 2021 Exhibition Lineup

    June 30, 2021
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