Location

Corcoran Gallery. On July 3, the Corcoran Gallery of Art will open Chuck Close Prints: Process and Collaboration, the first-ever survey to examine the artist’s extensive and groundbreaking work in the field of printmaking. With more than 100 finished works, grids, and proofs on display, the exhibition reveals the experimentation and processes that drive this innovative American artist. Additionally, the Corcoran is pleased to unveil two new works by Close, Roy Paper/Pulp, 2009–2010 and Self-portrait (anamorphic), 2007. Chuck Close Prints: Process and Collaboration will be on view from July 3 to September 12, 2010. Amanda Maddox, assistant curator of photography and media arts at the Corcoran, is the organizing curator.

One of the most innovative and influential practitioners of the medium, Close is fascinated with the techniques and materials of the printing process, from traditional forms such as woodcut and mezzotint to more modern applications like linoleum cut. Along with a community of master printers, Close has engineered new techniques and approaches that have greatly expanded the possibilities of the medium. When making a print, Close and his collaborators complete every stage of their process—from translating an image onto a matrix, to carving wood blocks, etching plates, and applying multiple layers of color—by hand. The mammoth scale and technical complexity of many of his portraits, combined with this time-consuming process, often means that a single print may take years to complete. On June 30, Close will appear in dialogue with his biographer, Christopher Finch, in an intimate, not-to-be-missed evening at the Corcoran, open to the public. In July, the Corcoran screens the documentary film Chuck Close.
 

Gallery is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.