NEW YORK, NY – Chelsea’s Agora Gallery will feature the original work of toNI Altenstrasser in Life is But a Dream. The exhibition opens May 22, 2018 and runs through June 12,  2018 with an opening reception on Thursday, May 24 from 6-8 pm. Any art lover who enjoys thought-provoking artworks and meeting talented and interesting artists is encouraged to attend.

About the Artist

Based in Passau, Germany, artist toNI Altenstrasser uses oil and acrylic paints, pen, and chalk pastels to create enigmatic, abstract compositions. In his search for new methods of expression, Altenstrasser intuitively and repeatedly revises his works, this process often becoming his primary subject matter. Using gestural marks to render animal forms and figures, Altenstrasser’s works make visible unseen layers of the human condition.  

In his brooding composition titled Thought II, Altenstrasser divides the composition into realms of opposing black and white. Rogue marks and lines are layered vigorously in an effort to obscure an unknown image. The artist’s Rote Giraffe für W.Parker is a more lighthearted picture imaging a small, crude red giraffe floating on an eggplant and auburn background. A blue heart-like shape in the corner of the picture plane further reveals the playful nature of the work. Finally, Market-place employs a bustling composition with expressive figures amid shadowy, bodily outlines. Richly textured and full of movement, the image captures the dynamism of a busy, hurried market.

Exhibition Dates: May 22-June 12, 2018

Reception: Thursday May 24, 2018 6-8 PM

Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat 11:00am – 6:00pm

Gallery Location: 530 West 25th Street, New York, NY

Event URL: https://www.agora-gallery.com/artistpage/toNI_Altenstrasser.aspx

Featured Artists:

toNI Altenstrasser | Maria José Cabral | Margret Carde | Benny De Grove | GLIL | Paciel González | Olga Loschinina | Samantha Messias | Jennifer Morrow | Svetlana Nelson | Olivia O'Keeffe | Gottfried Roemer | Jutta Schulte | Ifat Shatzky | Amber Warren | Satoco Yamamoto | Katja Yoon

About the Exhibition

Life is But a Dream is a group show that explores the surreality of memory and identity in a world too often constructed to resemble a mere product on the shelf of popular culture. Comprising 17 artists, the primary link joining them together is how memory can be reshaped by the imagination. These artists all share in examining the content of what they remember, with social and familial life acting as a lens through which they reexamine recollected moments.

About Agora Gallery

Agora Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery located in the heart of Chelsea’s fine art district in New York. Established in 1984, Agora Gallery specializes in connecting art dealers and collectors with national and international artists. The art gallery’s expert consultants are available to assist corporate and private clients in procuring original artwork to meet their organization’s specific needs and budget requirements. With a strong online presence and popular online gallery, ARTmine, coupled with the spacious and elegant physical gallery space, the work of our talented artists, who work in diverse media and styles, can receive the attention it deserves. Over the years Agora Gallery has sponsored and catered to special events aimed at fostering social awareness and promoting the use of art to help those in need.