In her first solo NYC show since 2006, Brown University art professor Leslie Bostrom presents “Monster Flowers,” a new series of large-scale paintings that feature vivid roadside scenes of flowering invasives, wayward perenials, animals, debris, and, in one painting, mysterious soldiers engaged in battle (discarded action figures? Not sure). Using a low point of view, nature-loving Bostrom, an avid birder for the past twenty years, lets the flowers loom large, drawing our attention to the loveliest and undoubtedly the most easily overlooked detail of our man-made industrial-transportation complex. Agitated and urgent, Bostrom’s inventive paint handling implores us to look more closely both at the paintings and the natural world around us.
Note: The gallery is only big enough to accommodate four paintings from the series, but more can be found on Bostrom’s website.
“Leslie Bostrom: Monster Flowers,” Brenda Taylor Gallery, Chelsea, New York, NY. Through June 2, 2012.
Related:
AS220 taped a studio visit video with Bostrom in 2010.
(And congratulations to all the Brown University art majors, especially my talented niece Jess, who are graduating today)
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Not sure if you're reading this Leslie, but congratulations!! Missing everyone up at List.
xx Iris
About your question with the Red Flowers painting-
The poppies are a symbol and reference to the soldiers who died in World War I. You'll see veterans here in the states sometimes wearing poppies on Memorial Day, or Veterans Day.
Hi Leslie, Just was surfing around various art blogs and saw this which is totally wonderful. I wish I could see the real paintings, but not in my stars to get to NY anytime soon. Congratulations and I hope to see you one of these days. Liza (Bakewell!)