I am constantly making lists of shows I want to see, and Ron Nagle’s show Handsome Drifter at BAMPFA back in 2020 was on the top of it. For obvious reasons I wasn’t able to get to that one, so I was extra thrilled to see his current show, Necessary Obstacles, at Matthew Marks Gallery in New York.

“Ron Nagle is known for his intimately scaled sculptures made of ceramic elements that are slip-cast, fired, and embellished with epoxy and other synthetic materials that allow him to expand his forms beyond the limits of clay. Evoking otherworldly landscapes or surreal architectural arrangements, Nagle’s inventive works elicit a vast range of associations. “The thing you want people to feel,” Nagle has said, “is something they haven’t felt before.” (Matthew Marks Gallery)

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The display was absolutely perfect for the tiny gorgeous sculptures.

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While this New York Times interview is from 2019, I found it charming.

Eighteen sculptures and six drawings are on view through October 23, 2021.