Lehmann Maupin Gallery Presents Angel Otero at Istanbul'74, 2/23-3/17

Lehmann Maupin Gallery has announced an exhibition of new work by Angel Otero in partnership with Istanbul'74 and curated by Isabella Icoz on view 23 February – 17 March, 2012. 

Continuing its mission to foster a cultural exchange between the two cities, in September 2011, Lehmann Maupin in partnership with Istanbul'74, an Istanbul-based creative agency focusing on the presentation of various cultural events including Istancool, presented work by Tracey Emin. For this collaboration, Lehmann Maupin will present Angel Otero's first solo exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey.

Angel Otero is a visual artist best known for his process-based paintings. While much of his works have been influenced by memories based in photographs and other family memorabilia combined with the gestures of 20th century painting, his latest work highlights the artist's unique process as a form of narrative in itself. Through his innovative process of oil paint scraping, Otero venerates historical oil painting while confronting it head on. Otero's 'deformation' approach to painting his works, first across glass and then once dry, laying the dried paint and reconstructing the composition anew across large canvasses, is representative of how the artist perceives the process of reconfiguring both personal and historical narratives. Otero's work sometimes uses process as a way of confronting deep, personal memories. Instead of representing his life through art, he archives moments within it by creating opportunities of surprise and discovery. His work is a constant negotiation between the individual and art history.

Angel Otero was born in 1981, in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He received his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Recent exhibitions include El Museo's Sixth Bienal at El Museo del Barrio, Memento, a solo exhibition at Lehmann Maupin Gallery New York, Misericordia at Prism Gallery Los Angeles, Chicago Cultural Center, and Constellations at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Otero is also the recipient of the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Visual Arts.

In October 2010, Lehmann Maupin took its first step at establishing an on-site presence to build on their longstanding relationships in Istanbul, presenting Five in Istanbul: A Selection of Artists from Lehmann Maupin Gallery at the Borusan Müzik Evi, featuring the work of Hernan Bas, Tracey Emin, Teresita Fernández, Tony Oursler and Jennifer Steinkamp. Lehmann Maupin has given important artists their first one-person exhibitions in New York including Tracey Emin, Anya Gallaccio, Shirazeh Houshiary, Do Ho Suh, Juergen Teller, and Adriana Varejão. In addition, the gallery has exposed emerging talents, such as Mickalene Thomas, Hernan Bas, Angel Otero and the Japanese artist Mr., through exhibitions at the gallery and participations in select art fairs. Our program includes important artists such as Lee Bul, Ashley Bickerton, Gilbert & George, Teresita Fernández, Tony Oursler, Tim Rollins and K.O.S., Nari Ward, and Erwin Wurm. Founded by partners Rachel Lehmann and David Maupin, Lehmann Maupin first opened in SoHo, and moved, in September 2002, to its present location in Chelsea. A second New York gallery space opened in late 2007 at 201 Chrystie Street in Manhattan's new cultural hub, the Bowery area.

Founded by Demet Muftuoglu-Eseli and Alphan Eseli in late 2009, ISTANBUL'74 cultivates platforms that connect Istanbul to the international cultural community. Thriving on creative exchange and operating in non-traditional ways, Istanbul'74's program brings together thought leaders from the worlds of fashion, film, music, art, design architecture and performing arts. One of the organization's major efforts has been the conception of ISTANCOOL, the Istanbul International Festival of Culture. Past Participants of Istancool have included Terry Gilliam, Zaha Hadid, Tilda Swinton, Reha Erdem, Marco Mueller, Sophie Calle, Jefferson Hack, Stephen Jones, Kirsten Dunst and many more. In 2011, Istanbul '74 presented Stephen Jones' Accent of Fashion, the MoMu Hats retrospective and most recently an exhibition of work by Sandro Kopp. Istanbul'74's art space is located in one of Istanbul's oldest districts- Karakoy.

Isabella Icoz is of Greek origin, born in London, raised in Switzerland, educated in the United States and currently living in Istanbul. Isabella received a BA with Honors at Brown University, an MA at The George Washington University and a Post-Graduate Diploma with Merit in East Asian Art at the Sotheby's Institute of Art. Isabella previously worked at Christie's in their London Business Development and Client Advisory departments and then as an Adviser to Sotheby's for Turkish art for several years. For the past five years Isabella has worked as an art consultant based in Istanbul, advising her Turkish and international clients on Modern and Contemporary art, both Turkish and international. Isabella also works as an Adviser to The Fine Art Fund, as a nominator for the Prix Pictet and curated the show Five in Istanbul in collaboration with Lehmann Maupin Gallery in Istanbul in October/November 2010.