In conjunction with the 60th Venice Art Biennale, the Palazzo Grimani Museum, part of the Veneto Regional Museums Directorate, proudly presents “The Arch within the Arc”, a solo exhibition featuring new paintings by Rick Lowe. This marks Lowe’s first solo show in Italy. Running until November 24, 2024, the exhibition draws inspiration from the history of Palazzo Grimani—an exemplar of Tuscan-Roman Renaissance architecture—and the urban dynamics of Venice. Lowe’s work delves into the architectural significance of arches, reflecting on their visual and aesthetic influence.
Lowe’s canvases, crafted with acrylic paint and collage, explore the interplay of geometric patterns and improvisation. The rooms of Palazzo Grimani, especially the renowned Tribune, sparked Lowe’s contemplation on ancient and pre-modern architecture. His works radiate outward in circular motions, employing a process of construction and deconstruction to evoke infrastructure, mapping, and the movement through Venice’s unique waterways.
The artist arranges rectangular compositional units in linear grids on the canvas, a nod to the domino games he plays with community members, emphasizing the cooperative nature of the game and the patterns it creates. This methodology mirrors aerial views and city maps, meditating on spatial, temporal, and social relationships, in line with Lowe’s blend of civic practice and visual expression.
Highlights of the exhibition include “Untitled” (2023), which evokes the geometry of architectural domes with concentric circles and glyphic brushstrokes, and “Diplopia” (2023), a large diptych that creates a sense of “double vision” through its intricate, overlapping patterns.
Lowe’s work, deeply inspired by Venice’s urban fabric, captures the essence of the city’s streets, canals, and bridges. His abstract forms reflect the passage of time and the architectural history of Venice, inviting viewers to experience the city’s timeless beauty in a new light.
Website: www.polomusealeveneto.beniculturali.it
Location: Palazzo Grimani Museum, Venice
Schedule: until November 24, 2024
