JIM LEE : Altamont
May 04 - June 02, 2007
Freight + Volume, New York


For his first solo show at Freight + Volume, Jim Lee will exhibit a series of new sculpture/painting hybrids that reflect his quirky brand of humor and present themselves as abstract solutions that slip in and out of recognition

Glossy surfaces, exposed three-dimensional wood skeletons set behind canvas, a stretcher bar on loan as a sculptural component and calculated brushstrokes that emulate texture are all elements that emerge throughout the gallery space. Lee’s creations give faithful attention to the nuances of production, surface and effect but without the implied self-consciousness.


An obsessive collector of industrial and consumer detritus, Lee fashions from these materials sly and innocuous objects that demand close inspection. His love for potent visual flavor manifests within these uniquely assembled pieces. Foul and chance enter in as conditions of the work and operate as vehicles for signature or sentiment. Sharp titles, sports reference and punky gestures, all employed frequently by Lee, threaten to negate the work’s seeming aesthetic austerity. Art historical references are evident as the works take their cue from a long list or peripheral influences such as Blinky Palermo and Ree Morton.