24 February30 April 2022

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Alison Jacques is pleased to present ‘Of the Surface of Things’, a four-person exhibition exploring the communicative potential of raw materials and exposed surfaces. The artists in dialogue are Maria Bartuszová (b. 1936, Prague, Czechoslovakia; d. 1996, Košice, Slovakia); Sheila Hicks (b. Hastings, Nebraska, 1934), who has worked in Paris for over 40 years; Hannah Wilke (b. 1940, New York, US; d. 1993, Houston, US); and Erika Verzutti (b. 1971, São Paulo, Brazil).

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The show’s title is taken from Wallace Stevens’s ‘Of the Surface of Things’ (1919), a short poem concerning a singer who, frustrated with his inability to write, walks to a nearby balcony to take in the view – ‘three or four hills and a cloud’. As the singer is reacquainted with the particularities of reality, with the surface of things, his imagination is untethered once more. Stevens shifts from prose to a metrical rhythm that permits his language to flow: ‘The gold tree is blue, / The singer has pulled his cloak over his head.’

The surface is a communicative space: intimate and direct; honest, exposed, exposing. When offered in its raw state, or an approximation thereof, the surface is held in suspension – or, as Marta Dziewańska writes of Bartuszová’s work, ‘in the moment when “the form is still being thought”.’ Using Stevens’s nine-line poem as a starting point, this exhibition explores the methods by which artists embrace and complicate ‘the surface of things’ as a means to pose novel questions of non-physical things.

Through unglazed terracotta and pastel on paper, Wilke articulates impulse, desire and sensuality; through plaster, rocks and string, Bartuszová speaks to the tense fragility of life. Hicks’s exposed linen demonstrates material’s innate ability to enhance our experience of space and the artist’s signature command of colour and light, while for Verzutti, the surface is a volatile space of collaged reference, one that, in this show, is built assembled from layers of clay, wax and papier-mâché newspaper. ‘I can almost feel it,’ writes Dorota Biczel of Verzutti’s surfaces, ‘the abundance barely contained’.

This exhibition anticipates and follows numerous major institutional surveys. Opening in April at The Hepworth Wakefield, curated by Andrew Bonacina, ‘Sheila Hicks: Off Grid’ will be the artist’s first UK museum solo exhibition. Bartuszová’s first UK museum retrospective, curated by Juliet Bingham and Gabriela Garlatyová, opens at Tate Modern, London, in September 2022. Last year, Verzutti had her first UK museum survey at Nottingham Contemporary, curated by Nicole Yip with Kiera Blakey, which was followed by solo exhibition at Museu de arte de São Paulo, curated by Adriano Pedrosa and André Mesquita, while Wilke’s major retrospective at The Pulitzer Arts Foundation, St. Louis, curated by Tamara H. Schenkenberg, closed in January 2022. The resulting monograph, Hannah Wilke: Art for Life’s Sake, will have its UK launch on 24 February (5–7pm) at Alison Jacques.

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Works

Sheila Hicks, Eclipse Varda, 2020

Pure natural pigment, synthetic fibres and cotton
Diameter: 104 cm (41 in)
Courtesy: © Sheila Hicks

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Sheila Hicks, Lianes Ivoire et miel, 2022

Linen, cotton and wool
Courtesy: © Sheila Hicks; photo: Michael Brzezinski

Sheila Hicks, Companero, 2021

Leather, synthetic fiber and cotton
38 x 50 cm (15 x 19 3/4 in)
Courtesy: © Sheila Hicks; photo: Michael Brzezinski

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Sheila Hicks, Virgin Territory, 2022

Leather, synthetic fiber and cotton
Diameter: 31 cm (12 1/4 in)
Courtesy: © Sheila Hicks; photo: Michael Brzezinski

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Erika Verzutti, Dieta, 2018

Papier-mâché and ceramic
47 x 66 x 12 cm (18 1/2 x 26 x 4 3/4 in)
Courtesy: © Erika Verzutti; photo: Eduardo Ortega

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Erika Verzutti, Surrealista, 2021

Papier mâche and polystyrene
174 x 77 x 41.5 cm (68 1/2 x 30 1/4 x 16 3/8 in)
Courtesy: © Erika Verzutti; photo: Stuart Whipps

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Erika Verzutti, Egg Tower with Brazil, 2021

Papier mâche and polystrene
243 x 34.5 x 34.5 cm (95 5/8 x 13 5/8 x 13 5/8 in)
Courtesy: © Erika Verzutti; photo: Michael Brzezinski

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Erika Verzutti, Sun Cookies, 2021

Papier mâche, polystyrene, clay and wax
48 x 43.5 x 5 cm (18 7/8 x 17 1/8 x 2 in)
Courtesy: © Erika Verzutti

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Erika Verzutti, Pot, 2021

Papier-mâché, polystyrene and oil paint
117 x 40.5 x 40.5 cm (46 1/8 x 16 x 16 in)
Courtesy: © Erika Verzutti

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1960

Pastel and paint on paper
Unframed: 39 x 35.5 cm (15 3/8 x 14 in); framed: 49.5 x 44.7 cm (19 1/2 x 17 5/8 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1966

Pastel and graphite on brown paper bag
Unframed: 14 x 12 cm (5 1/2 x 4 3/4 in); framed: 24.4 x 22.9 cm (9 5/8 x 9 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London; photo: Dawn Blackman

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. mid 1960s

Pastel and graphite on paper
Unframed: 21.6 x 27.9 cm (8 1/2 x 11 in); framed: 29 x 35.5 cm (11 3/8 x 14 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Five Androgynous and Vaginal Sculptures, 1960-61

Terracotta
Overall: 12 x 31 x 27 cm (4 3/4 x 12 1/4 x 10 5/8 in)
Courtesy Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Foraminifer, 1961-63

Terracotta
9.3 x 15 x 17.5 cm (3 5/8 x 5 7/8 x 6 7/8 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Yellow Rose of Texas, 1970

Terracotta
22.9 x 24.1 x 13.3 cm (9 x 9 1/2 x 5 1/4 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. mid 1960s

Pink terracotta
10.8 x 19 x 17 cm (4 1/4 x 7 1/2 x 6 3/4 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1964-66

Graphite on card
Unframed: 10.2 x 16.5 cm (4 x 6 1/2 in); framed: 37.8 x 44 x 4 cm (14 7/8 x 17 3/8 x 1 5/8 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1964-66

Graphite on card
Unframed: 16.5 x 10.2 cm (6 1/2 x 4 in); framed: 44 x 37.8 x 4 cm (17 3/8 x 14 7/8 x 1 5/8 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1964-66

Graphite on card
Unframed: 10.2 x 16.5 cm (4 x 6 1/2 in); framed: 37.8 x 44 x 4 cm (14 7/8 x 17 3/8 x 1 5/8 in)
Courtesy Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1964-66

Graphite on card
Unframed: 16.5 x 10.2 cm (6 1/2 x 4 in); framed: 44 x 37.8 x 4 cm (17 3/8 x 14 7/8 x 1 5/8 in)
Courtesy Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled (Single Gum Sculpture), 1984

Chewing gum in Plexiglas box
Framed: 6.4 x 6.4 x 2.5 cm (2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled (Single Gum Sculpture), 1984

Chewing gum in Plexiglas box
Framed: 6.4 x 6.4 x 2.5 cm (2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled (Single Gum Sculpture), 1984

Chewing gum in Plexiglas box
Framed: 6.4 x 6.4 x 2.5 cm (2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Hannah Wilke, Untitled (Single Gum Sculpture), 1979

Chewing gum in Plexiglas box
Framed: 6.4 x 6.4 x 2.5 cm (2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1 in)
Courtesy: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles and Alison Jacques, London © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon and Andrew Scharlatt, Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. Licensed by VAGA at Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York, DACs, London

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Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1972-74

Plaster
10 x 27 x 17 cm (10 5/8 x 6 3/4 x 4 in)
Courtesy: The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1985-87

Plaster and string
26.3 x 34 x 27 cm (10 3/8 x 13 3/8 x 10 5/8 in)
Courtesy: The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

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Maria Bartuszová, Landscape VIII, 1985

Plaster and stone
90 x 77 x 17.5 cm (35 3/8 x 30 1/4 x 6 7/8 in)
Courtesy: The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

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Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1968-70

Plaster
13.9 x 15.9 x 17.9 cm (5 1/2 x 6 1/4 x 7 1/8 in)
Courtesy: The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

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Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, c. 1967

Plaster
23 x 11 x 11.5 cm (9 1/8 x 4 3/8 x 4 1/2 in)
Courtesy: The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

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Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1985

Plaster and string
48 x 56 x 20.5 cm (18 7/8 x 22 1/8 x 8 1/8 in)
Courtesy: The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

Maria Bartuszová, Perforated Torso, 1986

Plaster
55 x 56 x 50 cm (21 5/8 x 22 1/8 x 19 3/4 in)
Courtesy: The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1968-69

Plaster
17 x 10 x 11 cm (6 3/4 x 4 x 4 3/8 in)
Courtesy: The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

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Maria Bartuszová, Untitled 16, 1984

Plaster and stone
11 x 41 x 19 cm (4 3/8 x 16 1/8 x 7 1/2 in)
Courtesy: The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

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Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1973

Plaster and rubber
16 x 18 x 18 cm (6 1/4 x 7 1/8 x 7 1/8 in)
Courtesy: © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, c. 1970

Pencil on paper
Unframed: 19.7 x 25 cm (7 3/4 x 9 7/8 in); framed: 41 x 45.4 cm (16 1/8 x 17 7/8 in)
Courtesy: The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

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Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, c. 1969

Pencil on paper
Unframed: 29.1 x 19.5 cm (11 1/2 x 7 5/8 in); framed: 50.5 x 40 cm (19 7/8 x 15 3/4 in)
Courtesy: The Estate of Maria Bartuszová, Košice, and Alison Jacques, London © The Archive of Maria Bartuszová, Košice

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  • Sheila Hicks, Eclipse Varda, 2020
  • Sheila Hicks, Lianes Ivoire et miel, 2022
  • Sheila Hicks, Companero, 2021
  • Sheila Hicks, Virgin Territory, 2022
  • Erika Verzutti, Dieta, 2018
  • Erika Verzutti, Surrealista, 2021
  • Erika Verzutti, Egg Tower with Brazil, 2021
  • Erika Verzutti, Sun Cookies, 2021
  • Erika Verzutti, Pot, 2021
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1960
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1966
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. mid 1960s
  • Hannah Wilke, Five Androgynous and Vaginal Sculptures, 1960-61
  • Hannah Wilke, Foraminifer, 1961-63
  • Hannah Wilke, Yellow Rose of Texas, 1970
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. mid 1960s
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1964-66
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1964-66
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1964-66
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled, c. 1964-66
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled (Single Gum Sculpture), 1984
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled (Single Gum Sculpture), 1984
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled (Single Gum Sculpture), 1984
  • Hannah Wilke, Untitled (Single Gum Sculpture), 1979
  • Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1972-74
  • Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1985-87
  • Maria Bartuszová, Landscape VIII, 1985
  • Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1968-70
  • Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, c. 1967
  • Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1985
  • Maria Bartuszová, Perforated Torso, 1986
  • Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1968-69
  • Maria Bartuszová, Untitled 16, 1984
  • Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, 1973
  • Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, c. 1970
  • Maria Bartuszová, Untitled, c. 1969

Installation

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