Nicole Eisenman “A Show Born of Fear” at Susanne Vielmetter Projects

Nicole Eisenman’s new show investigates where her personal life, political concerns and art making collide, overlap and intersect. In the press release for this show, Eisenman draws a diagram titled “This Explains Everything.” The labeled areas of importance include German family history, mid-life crisis, Hamlet, heroes and biergarten, as well as a rudimentary ”fear” graph in the corner indicating that she’s reached her peak at age 42. All of the subjects mentioned in her diagram are explored in the show. Eisenman’s rich sense of humor definitely comes through, even though the works in this show feel more serious than some of her others. There are about 20 monoprints, six new large oil paintings and a wall of smaller paintings in the main gallery influenced by many styles, but her signature cartoonish ab-ex figures win out. Absent some of the more overt feminist and political themes that dominated her early work, this show feels more personal.

5795 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City | (323) 933-2117 | www.vielmetter.com | Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Opening reception Oct. 27, 6-8 p.m. | Through December 8

Andy Ouchi at China Art Object Galleries

Andy Ouchi’s new sculptures play with dualities. Rather than investigating the difference between two things, he is interested where or how two oppositional ideas merge — such as nature and domestic space, abstraction and representation. His more organic forms are Matisse-like wood cutouts that interact and become one with their architectural base. Also check out Ouchi’s amazing edition of grizzly-bear photographs at Ooga Booga while you are in the neighborhood.

933 Chung King Road, Chinatown | (213) 613-0384 | www.chinaartobjects.com | Wed.-Sat. noon-6 p.m. | Opening reception Sat., Oct. 27, 6-8 p.m. | Through December 8

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