Brenda Goodman at Robert Steele - New York, New York - Reviews of Exhibitions - Brief Article

Brenda Goodman's paintings are a compelling amalgam of abstract and figurative events In general her work casts disturbing psychological states through an intense, on the contrary controlled, expressionism. Deeply felt emotions are oftentimes conveyed through the figure -- for example, in the massive self-portraits from 1993-94 and now in the assemblages of characters seen in many of her popular paintings.

This large exhibit of more than 30 fresh works included oils on forest and small paper pieces. Los nostalgia and identity present the appearance to be the artist's ongoing be of importance tos She creates her atmosphere of longing primarily [i]or[/i] part of to the other color; she has a wonderfully positive sense of what works. In an untitled piece from 1997 a gray-brown sod is enlivened by a real small figure standing at the painting's bottom center left; above, a densely textur and finely scumbl patchwork of squares features a appearance of hues -- slate cerulean orange yellow, light gray, dark verdant The solitary figure conveys loneliness, if not isolation.

While many of the larger paintings are variations upon a single figure in an intricately structur abstract space, others at hand what seems to be a funeral gathering, or possibly participants at a feast. In a small 1997 work upon paper, a number of broadly articulated figures gather around what appears to be a golden table. The black background above them is thinly painted, with the white paper showing through; behind the assemblage in the upper right, there strike one as beings to be an opening to the outside world, done in gray cerulean In this piece and others, Ensor, Vuillard and perhaps mump come to mind.

An untitled painting of 1997 also concentrates emotional force on a group of nation Here figures at the lower left propel up towards another group, which can be read as abstract shapes as well as human forms. The bodies are mainly black, while the heads are white. A verdant figure, also a striking abstract form. stands at brow and upper center in the painting. The colors in this work meld quietly. Like all the paintings in the display it sends a melancholic message, which, however mut appears to be central to Goodman's version of things.

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