William Bailey (Betty Cuningham, 541 W. 25, up through Nov. 24). New table-top still lifes and nudes by the controversial American painter whose “realism” is tinged with subtle but unmistakable touches of abstraction. I wrote the introductory essay for the exhibition catalogue: “Today Bonnard is widely acknowledged as the major master he always was, and Morandi and Diebenkorn seem well on the way to achieving similar recognition. William Bailey will likely prove a harder sell, not just because of the American obsession with ‘cutting-edge’ art but also because his paintings never raise their voice….They give nothing away: you must come to them.” Here’s your chance to do just that (TT).
Terry Teachout on the arts in New York City
