Emerging Artist Profile: Charles Lutz

21 May 2008

"Stacked" (LV Heinz, Brillo, and Kellogg's boxes) 5'1" x 19" x 24" Enamel, leather, brass and vinyl over wood in three parts, 2008

Charles Lutz ’s newest series “Sold” critiques as well as heralds the Contemporary Art aftermarket. Lutz looks at the influence of theater, hype and most of all, art world cache and the effect that they have on the art market. The works of the series are based on the designs of 19th Century gilded French porcelain, which refers to an aristocracy, a select class of persons who were able to afford these meticulously crafted objects of luxury which were considered status symbols of their time, much like Contemporary works of art are today. This series differs from Lutz’s previous series (viewable at Warhol DENIED), in that there is no economy to its creation. Repeated in the series are the combination of gilded branches and birds that reference 19th Century French porcelain and also reflect the indulgent nature of collecting, the flock-like atmosphere of auctions, as well as the sometime solitary nature and anonymity of art collecting. The subject matter of “Sold” creates a tension in the primary market, in that the series embraces an anticipated moment in the future life of the works, when they appear on the secondary market through auction. This raises many questions such as, “Can Phillips sell a painting where the main subject is a Sotheby’s auction?” or “Can Simon de Pury or Tobias Meyer auction a portrait of themselves?”.

"Christ" 25.25" Diameter. Oil, enamel, and 23 kt gold on canvas over panel, 2008

Lutz’s will be featured in “Project One: Icons” at 108 Fine Art in Harrogate, UK from the 6th to the 27th of September. 2008. The exhibition will focus on iconic images of people and institutions: religion, royalty, celebrity and politics. Curated by the artists Richard McTague and Jonathan Kendall of RedHouse Originals.

Born outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1982, Charles graduated from the Pratt Institute in 2004. The artist lives and works in Brooklyn.

"Flock (Dumb-Skull version)" 45.5 diameter. Oil, enamel, and 23kt gold on canvas over panel, 2007-2008

"Prayer (Tobias Meyer)" 18" diameter. Oil and 23 kt gold on canvas over panel, 2008

"Flock" 43" diameter. Oil and 23 kt gold on canvas over panel, 2007-2008

"Two Birds (Tobias Meyer)" 11.75 diameter. Oil, enamel and 23 kt gold on canvas over panel, 2008

"Free Trade (Dumb-Skull 2)" 30" diameter. Oil, enamel, and 23 kt gold over panel, 2008