Kellesimone Waits: Power Plays at Frank Pictures Gallery

Right now Los Angeles is one of the best cities, if not the best one, for contemporary art. It has so many galleries, it would take months to visit all of them. Some artist are even choosing LA over New York because of its dynamic art scene.

I was hanging out in LA with my friends Pablo and Casey. Not really knowing what they’re into in terms of contemporary art, I decided to go see Kellesimone Waits’  “Power Plays” at the Frank Pictures Gallery. It seemed accessible as it dealt with mostly current political figures and seemed to have a social message (as opposed to, say, some abstract postulation about the nature of reality or something). Kellesimone is also singer Tom Waits’ daughter, which was also another reason that brought us there. Not a bad thing–just another element to play with, something to talk about at the café afterwards.

As you can see in the video, Pablo, who has an incisive -if ruthless- eye, had a mostly negative reaction to her art. Well, to be fair, not an altogether negative reaction. He didn’t love it. “Too cartooney” or not deep enough was his main complaint. Casey liked the paintings a little more. She found then, if anything, entertaining. She also took the artist’s statement into consideration and found the art successful in light of the original intent.

Hilary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, 2009

acrylic on canvas
60″x42”

Our main criticism didn’t have to do with the concept behind “Power Plays,” which I found unique and quite interesting. It was a mostly technical criticism: some of the portraits did not fully resemble the politician being portrayed. The painting where Hilary Clinton and Nacy Pelosi are engaged in some type of sexual wrestling is a good example. One has to look very closely or read the title, otherwise it kind of looks like them, but not enough.That quick second of doubt (“is that her?”) takes away from the potential comedic reaction one may have.

Lack of resemblance is not something only up-and-coming artists like Waits have to deal with. The same thing may be argued of, say, Elizabeth Peyton’s portraits. Maybe photography is so prevalent nowadays that viewers ask more of portraits. Maybe contemporary artists are not as craft-oriented as artists a hundred year ago were. Many work from photographs.

That said, I think Kellesimone Wait’s “Power Plays” is a strong group of paintings. She plays with some interesting ideas. The result of seeing political figures in sexual positions is both funny and telling at the same time. The limited palette (pink, brown, black) and the simple composition focus the work. “Power Plays” brings a usually all-too-solemn group of people, politicians, down to earth. My favorite painting was that of Margaret Thatcher.

What can I say? I have a soft spot for sexually risqué blonds.

Kellesimone Waits

Margaret Thatcher, 2009
acrylic on canvas
24”x30”