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About

Working in abstraction, Elizabeth Neel creates large-scale paintings that incorporate various techniques and abstract gestures as a method to interpret psychological experience. Decomposition, preservation, and re-composition are central themes in Neel’s work. She applies paint with a formal immediacy that suggests both the humor and distress of experience in flux. Neel’s negotiation between marks as representations of themselves and as descriptive tools challenges the act of looking and the process of cognition.

Neel’s paintings on raw canvas often employ rich colors like greens, purples, and ochre colors to evoke the natural world. Splatters of magenta might convene with hard-edged ochre triangular shapes, evoking the specific emotional qualities of particular modes of paint application. Her dexterous mark-making builds up compositions that translate a choreography of movements into specific forms. Vertical swaths of paint anchor swirls, splatters, and smears only to seep onto the bottom of the canvas. Neel’s drips, pours, sweeping brushstrokes, and monoprinting techniques utilize a language, specific to paint, that conjures a poetic lyricism beyond her canvas.

Elizabeth Neel was born in 1975 in Stowe, Vermont, and lives and works in New York. She graduated from Columbia University with an MFA in 2007 and received a BA from Brown University in 1997.

Recent solo exhibitions include Elizabeth Neel: Nightjars and Allies, Pilar Corrias, London, UK; Tangled on the Serpent Chair, Mary Boone, New York, NY; Claw Hammer, Vielmetter Los Angeles; Vulture and Chicks, Pilar Corrias, London, UK; Lobster with Shell Game, Vielmetter Los Angeles; The People, the Park, the Ornament, Pilar Corrias, London, UK; 3 and 4 before 2 and 5, Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York, NY; Routes and Pressures, Vielmetter Los Angeles; Sphinx Ditch, Pilar Corrias Gallery, London, UK; Leopard Complex, Sikkema Jenkins & Co., NY; Stick Season, The Sculpture Center, New York, NY.

Recent group exhibitions include Structures of Feeling, Galerie Maria Bernheim, Zurich, Switzerland; Paintings, Mary Boone, New York, NY; Surface Work, Victoria Miro, London, UK; August and Everything After, Plymouth Rock, Zurich, Switzerland; Speaking Through Paint, Lori Bookstein Fine Art, New York, NY; Modern Talking, curated by Nicola Trezzi, Cluj Museum, Romania; Four Rooms, Center for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, Poland; Painting Overall, Prague Biennial 5, Prague, Czech Republic; Going Where the Weather Suits My Clothes, A Fall of Light of Fabric, Mothers Tank Station, Dublin, Ireland; Living with Art: Collecting Contemporary in Metro New York, The Neuberger Museum, Purchase College, Purchase, NY; Abstract America, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK.

Her works are in the following public collections: Albright-Knox, Buffalo, New York; Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA; Herbert F Johnson Museum, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA.

Selected Works

This image depicts an artwork by Elizabeth Neel titled "Science." This artwork was created in 2023 and measures 78" x 58" [HxW] (198.12 x 147.32 cm). Its medium is Acrylic on canvas.
Elizabeth Neel
"Science," 2023
This image depicts an artwork by Elizabeth Neel titled "A Place to Land." This artwork was created in 2023 and measures 66" x 119" [HxW] (167.64 x 302.26 cm). Its medium is Acrylic on canvas.
Elizabeth Neel
"A Place to Land," 2023
This image depicts an artwork by Elizabeth Neel titled "Actor's Life." This artwork was created in 2023 and measures 62" x 89" [HxW] (157.48 x 226.06 cm). Its medium is Acrylic on canvas.
Elizabeth Neel
"Actor's Life," 2023
Elizabeth Neel “Life in Halves 2,” 2019
Elizabeth Neel
“Life in Halves 2,” 2019
Elizabeth Neel “Why Io,” 2020
Elizabeth Neel
“Why Io,” 2020
Elizabeth Neel “US 1,” 2019
Elizabeth Neel
“US 1,” 2019
Elizabeth Neel “US 31,” 2019
Elizabeth Neel
“US 31,” 2019
Elizabeth Neel Coasting the Wall, 2018
Elizabeth Neel
"Coasting the Wall," 2018
Elizabeth Neel, Man and His Means, 2016, Acrylic on canvas, 96 x 76" [HxW] (243.84 x 193.04 cm), Photo credit: Adam Reich
Elizabeth Neel
"Man and His Means," 2016
Elizabeth Neel, Mariana Trench, 2017, Acrylic on canvas, 96 x 76" [HxW], Photo credit: Adam Reich
Elizabeth Neel
"Mariana Trench," 2017
Elizabeth Neel, Love and Syntax, 2015, Acrylic on canvas, 95" H x 78" W (241.3 cm H x 198.12 cm W), Photo cred: Jeff McLane
Elizabeth Neel
"Love and Syntax," 2015
Elizabeth Neel, What the Words Were About, 2012, self hardening clay, wax, paper, bone, electrical tape, found image printed on A4 paper, spray paint, plywood, acrylic interior paint
Elizabeth Neel
"What the Words Were About," 2012
Elizabeth Neel, All Else Was Belly, 2012, Steel conduit, deer skin, found image printed on A4 paper, utility wheels, plywood, acrylic interior paint
Elizabeth Neel
"All Else Was Belly," 2012
Elizabeth Neel, Some Slight Injury, 2012, Acrylic (and paper collage) on paper, 24" x 19"
Elizabeth Neel
"Some Slight Injury," 2012
Elizabeth Neel, Physical Plant, 2012, Oil and spray paint on canvas, 46" H x 58" W (116.84 cm H x 147.32 cm W)
Elizabeth Neel
"Physical Plant," 2012
Elizabeth Neel, Step to Earth, 2012, Oil and spray paint on canvas, 76" H x 96" W (193.04 cm H x 243.84 cm W)
Elizabeth Neel
"Step to Earth", 2012

Exhibitions

1975
Born in Stowe, VT
Lives and works in New York, NY
2007
MFA, Columbia University, New York, NY
2002
Diploma Certificate, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
1997
BA, Brown University, Providence, RI

Selected Solo and Two Person Exhibitions

2023
"The Ghosts of My Friends," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2021
"Elizabeth Neel: Limb after Limb," Pilar Corrias, Savile Row, London, UK
"Elizabeth Neel: Arms Now Legs," Salon 94, New York, NY (Link)
2020
"Elizabeth Neel: In The Belly of the Whale," Various Small Fires, Seoul, Korea
"Life in Halves," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2019
"Elizabeth Neel: Nightjars and Allies," Pilar Corrias, London, UK
2018
"Tangled on the Serpent Chair," Mary Boone, New York, NY
2017
"Claw Hammer," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA
2016
“Vulture and Chicks,” Pilar Corrias, London, UK
2015
"Lobster with Shell Game," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA
2014
"The People, the Park, the Ornament," Pilar Corrias, London, UK
2013
"3 and 4 before 2 and 5," Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York, NY
2012
"Routes and Pressures," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Los Angeles, CA
2011
"Sphinx Ditch," Pilar Corrias Gallery, London, UK
"Leopard Complex," Sikkema Jenkins & Co., NY
2010
"Stick Season," The Sculpture Center, New York, NY
2009
Monica De Cardenas Gallery, Milan, Italy
2008
"Make No Bones," Deitch Projects, New York, NY
2005
Klemens Gasser & Tanja Grunert, Inc., New York, NY

Selected Group Exhibitions

2021-2022
"Eternal Seasons," LGDR & Wei, Hong Kong
2021
"No Line on the Horizon," Levy Gorvy, Palm Beach, FL
"20 Years," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2020
"Structures of Feelings," Curated by Piper Marshall, Galerie Maria Bernheim, Zurich, Switzerland
2018
"Paintings," Mary Boone, New York, NY
“Surface Work,” Victoria Miro, London, UK (Link)
2016
“August and Everything After,” Plymouth Rock, Zurich, Switzerland
2014
"Speaking Through Paint," Lori Bookstein Fine Art, New York, NY
2013
Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York, NY
2012
"Modern Talking," curated by Nicola Trezzi, Cluj Museum, Romania
'Uri Aran/Elizabeth Neel, 'I mean orange'
2011
"A Painting Show," Harris Lieberman, New York, NY
"Four Rooms," Center for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, Poland
"Painting Overall," Prague Biennial 5, Prague, Czech Republic
"Going Where the Weather Suits My Clothes, A Fall of Light of Fabric," Mothers Tank Station, Dublin, Ireland
2010
"Wait for Me at the Bottom of the Pool," curated by Bob Nickas, Sagaponack, NY
"Summer Group Show," Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, Culver City, CA
"Purity is a Myth", Pilar Corrias Gallery, London, UK
"Living with Art: Collecting Contemporary in Metro New York," The Neuberger Museum, Purchase College, Purchase, NY
2009
"Cave Painting," curated by Bob Nickas, New York, NY
"Abstract America," Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
"On Paper," Monica De Cardenas, Zuoz, Switzerland
"Pulp Fiction," Eleven Rivington, New York, NY
2008
"A Seer Out of Season," On Stellar Rays, New York, NY
"Subtraction," Deitch Projects, New York, NY
"8 x 11/A4," James Fuentes LLC, New York, NY
2007
"Late Liberties," John Connely Presents, New York, NY
"Salon Nouveau," Engholm Engelhorn, Vienna, Austria
"Landscape," Southfirst, Brooklyn, NY
2006
"Farewell to Icon," Anna Helwing Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"The Garden Party," Deitch Projects, New York, NY
"New Work," Klemens Gasser & Tanja Grunert, Inc., New York, NY
2005
"Flower Power," Klemens Gasser & Tanja Grunert, Inc., New York, NY
"Off My Biscuit," Destroy Your District, Samson Projects, Boston, MA

Bibliography

2022
Gottschaller, Pie. "Elizabeth Neel," Burlington Contemporary, April 5
2021
Clavarino, Elena. "Elizabeth Neel With a new show at Pilar Corrias, in London, Alice Neel’s granddaughter forges a path of her own," September 25 (Link)
Cascone, Sarah. "Elizabeth Neel Grew Up Painting With Her Famous Grandmother. Now, Her New Abstractions Are Getting Attention in New York and London," Artnet, August 23 (Link)
2020
Loos, Ted. "Smaller Fairs Mean Great Art, Closer to Home," New York Times, March 14 (Link)
2018
Smith, Roberta. "At 7 Art Galleries, the Ecstatic Flow of Paint and the Stories It Can Tell," New York Times (web), September 27 (Link)
2017
Tauer, Kristen and Leigh Nordstrom, “Art Basel Miami Beach Preview: The Scene in the Design District,” WWD (web), December 4 (Link)
2016
Madden, Kathleen, “Elizabeth Neel,” Vitamin P3: New Perspectives in Painting, Phaidon
2015
Deyris-Henry, Dorothe. "The New Abstraction in the U.S. (and Why It Is New)," Art Press, March
Vesnik, Ana. "Elizabeth Neel at Susanne Vielmetter Gallery," Widewalls, May
Knight, Christopher. "Review: A process that ricochets between chance and order," Los Angeles Times, June 21
Johnson, Grant. "Choreography and Calligraphy: Elizabeth Neel at Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects," ArtInfo (web), July 2
Parkes, Olivia. "Messy Art to Depict Our Messy Lives," Broadly (web), November 13
2014
Bunker, John, "Review: Elizabeth Neel at Pilar Corrias," abstract critical, May 23 (Link)
Palomar, MK. "Elizabeth Neel: interview," studio international, May 20
Elizabeth Neel: The People, The Park, The Ornament, Volt Caf, May 13
Exhibition of new paintings and sculptures by American artist Elizabeth Neel opens at Pilar Corrias, Art Daily, May 1
2013
Miller, Leigh Anne, "The Lookout: A Weekly Guide to Shows You Won't Want to Miss", Art in America online, May 16
2011
Falconer, Morgan. "Elizabeth Neel, Leopard Complex," Art Review, Summer/Issue 51
"Top 100," Flash Art, Nov/Dec 2011, p. 51
Sherwin, Skye. "Artist of the Week 156: Elizabeth Neel," The Guardian, September 22
Smyth, Cherry. "Elizabeth Neel: Sphinx Ditch," This is Tomorrow, September 28
2010
Coxhead, Gabriel. "Purity is a Myth," Time Out London, June 24
2009
Smaldone, Andrew. "Elizabeth Neel," ArtReview Magazine, December, p. 127
Nickas, Bob. "Painting Abstraction," Phaidon, pp. 54-57
Harpers Magazine, (featured image), September, p. 28
Auder, Michel. "Elizabeth Neel," Interview Magazine, June/July, pp. 86-89
Saatchi Gallery, Abstract America, Jonathan Cape/Random House, pp. 112 - 121
"New York Artists Dictionary," Flash Art, March/April, p. 69
Wheatley, Charmaine. "Elizabeth Neel," Border Crossings, Issue 109, pp. 93-94
2008
"Make No Bones," New Yorker Magazine, December 8, pp. 20-21
Allsop, Laura. "Preview: Elizabeth Neel," Art Review Magazine, November, p. 47
Camhi, Leslie. "People Are Talking About," Vogue, November, p. 235
2007
Trachtman, Paul. "Back to the Figure: Recognizable forms are showing up in the works of a new wave of contemporary painters," Smithsonian Magazine, October
2006
Spence, Rebecca. "Boundary Issues," ArtNews, April pp. 124-125
2005
Cohen, David. "A Branch of A Truly American Tradition," The New York Sun, June 9, p.16

Public Collections

Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Herbert F Johnson Museum, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA