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NEW YORK CITY–FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Art of Living
Hugo Galerie – Soho
Featuring Beth Carter and Jesús Curiá
And introducing Lucy MacGillis and Pierre-Luc Poujol
30 May–16 July 2023
 
 
HUGO GALERIE is pleased to present The Art of Living, a group exhibition inviting us to contemplate the myriad ways art inspires life and life inspires art. The sculptures and paintings on display demonstrate the foundational principles of their artists’ lives, what it means to be alive, and what makes life worth living.
Lucy MacGillis’ paintings bring with them the warm embrace of the Italian sun. Her edited still lifes and portraits communicate the comfort and serenity of being exactly where you are supposed to be. Recurring themes and color schemes convey the familiarity of each vignette. MacGillis paints the joy of everyday intimacy, the peace of life in purposeful repose, and the poignant simplicity of what’s most meaningful. The purest in situ is the spirit.
The sculptures of Jesús Curiá exhilarate in the freedom of becoming. His figures embody that fleeting feeling when your soul takes flight—with the spark of inspiration, when your heart beats for someone else, where you are most invigorated. When life grants us the chance to not just be but also celebrate who we are, possibilities burst like a kaleidoscope of opportunity. Curiá’s subjects carry an archetypal message that when you find who you truly are, when you realize your essence and pursue your potential, even the moon is within reach.
Lest we get carried away by the myth of an endless summer, Beth Carter is here to dispel it. Her sculptures remind us self-reflection and introspection, facing our shadows and acknowledging our complexities, make for a far richer experience. If life were all roses, their aroma would lose its seduction and petals would have the same appeal as gravel. In order to understand the light, we must also sit in darkness. Dreams are most compelling when appreciated with open eyes. Carter’s works force us to see the beauty in what is often hidden.
And Pierre-Luc Poujol could revive an ailing heart with his passionate canvases of nature’s intrinsic fireworks. His dynamic paintings of our shared environment have a pulse of their very own. Vivid colors vibrate as blooms unfurl, lily pads saunter, and leaves spiral in the breeze. There is something sublime captured in each canvas—the scene spilling beyond the frame reminds us we are but minor components of a much larger picture. Poujol’s primal admiration for the world around us is channeled into the vibrancy and vigor of each action-painted piece.
These four artists illustrate that life is not a science; it is an art. Living isn’t an act; it is a feeling. In the age of social media, when people put their lives on oft phony display and parade various “aesthetics,” existence is diminished to a charade. It is reassuring to be reminded that living isn’t external but internal. MacGillis, Curiá, Carter, and Poujol advocate for the intimacy, freedom, sincerity, and verve—the primordial priorities—of a life well-lived.
HUGO GALERIE is a fine art gallery in New York City specializing in contemporary figurative painting and sculpture. The gallery represents an international roster of artists working in a variety of media and range of genres. Please direct inquiries to info@hugogalerie.com.
Lucy MacGillis, La Limonaia, oil on linen, 39½” x 47¼” (100 x 120cm)
Jesús Curiá, Helicoide VI, bronze, wood, and iron, 91¼” x 18″ x 15″ (232 x 46 x 38cm)
Beth Carter, Hollow King, bronze, 27½” x 14½” x 14″ (70 x 37 x 36cm) (including base)
Pierre-Luc Poujol, Numero 477, acrylic on canvas, 76¾” x 51″ (195 x 130cm)
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