Joanne Greenbaum stands out as an artist who matured in the 1980s by seamlessly blending the visual advances of Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, and Asian ink painting into new, surprising realms. She uniquely integrates drawing and the human touch into painting, at a time dominated by stylized aesthetics. Employing diverse media such as oil paint, acrylic, flashe, oil stick, ink, ballpoint pen, colored pencil, and markers, she masterfully stains the canvas, fashions flat and feathery shapes, and constructs open-ended linear forms. Her work results in a harmonious symphony of distinct marks, shapes, and colors that collectively form a cohesive whole while preserving the uniqueness of each element. Her compositions emerge organically throughout their creation.
The exhibition, Amnesia, at Nino Mier Gallery showcases 13 paintings, three ballpoint pen drawings, and five ceramic sculptures, all untitled and dated from 2010 to 2025. This collection highlights the multifaceted nature of Greenbaum’s artistic approach. For instance, she employs a metallic glaze on one ceramic piece, while another features silver leaf and an oil-based Sharpie. These diverse creations might seem to come from different artists, yet they are undeniably all Greenbaum’s handiwork.
In a discussion with artist Amy Sillman, Greenbaum described her creative method: “I don’t really scrape away. I just keep adding until the painting feels like it doesn’t need anything more. But there has to be lots of air in there, otherwise it’s claustrophobic.” A 2014 painting exemplifies this, with colored lines forming various patterns amidst flat, curving, monochromatic shapes in a spectrum of oranges, blues, reds, pinks, and violets. A large, slitted black form adds a dynamic contrast, shifting between two and three-dimensional forms. Despite the lack of a set formula, each layer feels interconnected. Yet, this composition isn’t replicated elsewhere in Amnesia.
In a 2016 piece, Greenbaum creates irregular concentric circles in ballpoint pen leading to an opaque center, evoking the image of water spiraling down a drain. However, the bubble gum pink background disrupts any real-world connection, transforming the imagery into a purely painted experience. Greenbaum’s work evokes associations without resorting to resemblance, a compelling paradox in her art. A 2013 piece features an unfamiliar blue and pink shape, while a 2025 painting suggests a futuristic city’s aerial view.
Greenbaum’s ability to navigate the perceptual shift from object to locale to action, without venturing into representation, is just one of the many delights of her art. Her work exudes a playful energy, independent of style or statement. This joy in creating something extraordinary from the mundane is a rare quality shared with Joe Brainard’s memoir, I Remember, and Frank O’Hara’s poetry. Joanne Greenbaum: Amnesia continues at Nino Mier Gallery (62 Crosby Street, Soho, Manhattan) until February 21. The exhibition was curated by the gallery.
