A Studio in the Gallery: The Playful Universe of Ignacio Iturria

This monographic catalogue accompanies the exhibition A Studio in the Gallery: The Playful Universe of Ignacio Iturria, presented at the Neuberger Museum of Art from September 24 2017 to February 25, 2018 and curated by Patrice Giasson. This retrospective features more than thirty oil paintings on canvas and cardboard created in the last thirty years of Iturria¿s long career. The exhibition also includes a living studio in which the artist will work during a month-long residency, transforming the gallery into a space for the exploration and creation of new works.Fully illustrated, the catalogue is edited by Patrice Giasson and includes an essay by Patrice Giasson as well as thirteen short stories written by prominent Argentinean writer Sergio Chejfec. Ignacio Iturria is probably the most theatrical painter one can imagine. Iturria recreates universes filled with whimsical characters and playful animals staged within surreal environments. He cleverly transforms found objects, and uses trompe-l¿oeil effects, to play with the viewers¿ perception. His paintings frequently depict small stages from which characters may enter and escape; the play of shadow and light enhances their theatricality. Iturria looks at society in a profound and poetic manner. His ability to see a universe in a dripping sink recalls the wonder of a childlike gaze. Lacking any form of cynicism, Iturria¿s work invites us to view the world with amusement and hope.