Something about Mary

On the occasion of the new production of Puccini’s Tosca
Hugh Bush, Paul Chan, Francesco Clemente, George Condo, John Currin, Marlene Dumas, Rachel Feinstein, Barnaby Furnas, Elizabeth Peyton, James Rosenquist, Julian Schnabel, Dana Schutz, Shahzia Sikander, Kiki Smith, Rudolf Stingel, Francesco Vezzoli
September 22, 2009 – January 31, 2010

Sixteen contemporary artists were featured in Something about Mary, inspired by the company’s new production of Puccini’s Tosca, which opened the 2009–10 season. In the first scene of the opera, the painter Mario Cavaradossi is returning to work on a portrait of Mary Magdalene when his lover, the singer Tosca, enters and realizes he’s chosen another woman as his model—his Magdalene’s eyes are blue and Tosca’s are brown. With this in mind, 14 of the artists created their own visions of one of the Bible’s most famous figures, while Marlene Dumas and Kiki Smith lent previously created works on the same subject.

Marlene Dumas
Magdalena from the Back, 1996-1999
ink and chalk on paper
49 1/4 x 25 5/8 inches
Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, NY

Francesco Vezzoli
Silvana Mangano as Mary Magdalene, 1999-2009
laserprint on canvas, metal needles
15 1/3 x 11 1/2 inches
Courtesy the artist and Gagosian Gallery, NY

Julian Schnabel
Mary, 2009
oil and resin on canvas
28 3/4 x 22 inches
Copyright Julian Schnabel, Julian Schnabel Studio

Julian Schnabel
Portrait of a Woman from Jerusalem, 2009
oil and resin on canvas
77 5/8 x 52 1/8 inches
Copyright Julian Schnabel, Julian Schnabel Studio

Shahzia Sikander
Mary Magdalene, 2009
ink and gouache on prepared paper
15 x 11.5 inches
Courtesy the artist and Sikkema Jenkins & Co., NY

Kiki Smith
Mary Magdalene, 1994
cast silicon bronze and forged steel
60 x 20 1/2 x 21 1/2 inches
Collection the artist, courtesy PaceWildenstein

Rachel Feinstein
Mary (me), 2009
enamel on mirror
41 1/2 x 30 3/4 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marianne Boesky Gallery, NY

George Condo
Mary Magdalene, 2009
oil on linen
27 x 26 inches
Courtesy the artist and Luhring Augustine, NY 

John Currin
Mademoiselle, 2009
oil on canvas
42 x 34 inches
Copyright John Currin, courtesy Gagosian Gallery, collection Peter Morton

Rudolf Stingel
Untitled (Mary Magdalene), 2009
oil on linen
16 x 13 inches
Courtesy the artist and Paula Cooper Gallery, NY

Elizabeth Peyton
Mary Magdalene after El Greco, 2009
pastel pencil on paper
8 5/8 x 6 inches
Courtesy the artist and Gavin Brown's enterprise

Paul Chan
Amateur Magdalene, 2009
oil on canvas on portable projection screen
84 x 53 x 29 inches
Courtesy the artist and Greene Naftali Gallery, NY

Dana Schutz
Surrogate, 2009
oil on canvas
48 x 47 inches
Courtesy the artist and Zach Feuer Gallery, NY

Hugh Bush
Wrapped, 2009
beechwood, archival quality photographs, neutral ph adhesive, acrylic paint, varnish
14 x 11 inches
Courtesy the artist

Barnaby Furnas
Mary Magdalene, 2009
acrylic on canvas
41 x 33 inches
Courtesy the artist, Marianne Boesky Gallery, NY, Modern Art, London, and Anthony Meier Fine Arts, San Francisco

James Rosenquist
Tosca 2009
oil on canvas with lace collage
72 x 72 inches
Copyright James Rosenquist, Acquavella Galleries

Installation views of Something about Mary.