Chloe Wise is a Canadian artist who is known for her wry sense of humor and stylized portraiture that comments on the intersection of the ordinary and excesses of contemporary life. As a consistent exhibitor at Almine Rech, the gallery has published a new book on the New York-based artist, entitled Second Nature.
The monograph showcases artwork from six of her past shows, four of which were held at Almine Rech’s locations across Paris, London, and New York. Amongst the images she explores, Wise recurrently uses food and the female figure as a starting point to talk about desire, consumption, and the falsifications cast throughout the history of art and advertisements.
For example, in a conversation with Almine Rech, Wise notes how various fashion brands and food labels, such as Corona and Hidden Valley Ranch, use idyllic landscapes to manipulate their audience into thinking their products will bring a sense of paradise.
Though representational and humorous at first glance, each of Wise‘s paintings carries a glaze of illusion that opens a dialogue into the incessant habits we’ve formed around sexuality, desire, and politics.
Second Nature is a 432-page book that is limited to an edition of 2500 copies. It comes with a tactile velvet cover and retails for €75 EUR / $88 USD.
On the topic of books, check out Louis Vuitton’s upcoming title that explores the possibilities of life on Mars.
