In an eloquent article on the “New Art-World Rebels,” Anthony Haden-Guest describes three 1970s provocateurs—Colette, Neke Carson, and M. Henry Jones—all of whom have previously had online exhibitions at Gallery 98. Haden-Guest sets these artists against the background of the current art boom, and heralds the return of “interesting art” by artists “who began doing their stuff shortly before the Big Money began rolling in, and who were making work that was of its nature hard to buy and sell.”
The best-known of the three is Colette, a veteran with dozens of exhibitions under her belt, whose creative drive has fueled her near-heroic struggle for recognition. Haden-Guest recalls Colette’s attention-grabbing 1973 debut, where the artist “used stuff like ruched parachute silk to turn her living space into a walk-in artwork,” and her subsequent exhibition of “larger-than-lifesize paintings, more or less likenesses of herself.”
Colette’s recent return to Germany, where she lived and worked in the 1980s, has given her the opportunity to go through some of her old storage spaces. Among the treasures unearthed are some of her most collectible works: vintage 1970s examples of the 12” x 12” collages called “Records of my Life.” This ongoing series incorporates photos and ephemera from her life and performances, “Colettesizing” them with paint, glazes, and glitter. Early works are hard to find, and the collection offered here by Colette is not only what Haden-Guest calls “interesting” but exceptionally beautiful. Inquire about prices.
