“Only connect!…Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer.” – E.M. Forester
Two artists, at different junctures of their careers, explore themes of intimacy within the context of a queer dialogue in Glazed, the duo painting show currently up at Monya Rowe Gallery in New York. Angela Dufresne channels E.M. Forster’s “Only connect” concept with her paintings depicting pre-internet, 1950s-esque family narratives. While nostalgic almost to the point of Coca-Cola commerciality, Dufresne’s idealized familial scenes mean to rebel against our era’s drive for hyper-connectivity, which arguably only propagates apathy and isolation. Lou Fratino’s homoerotic portraits are romantic and emotional – idealized male bodies embracing with bolded muscles in the stylized, oil crayon flourish. Dufresne and Fratino traverse their queer identities in these outwardly “classic” scenes of love and family. Glazed is on view at Monya Rowe Gallery until August 3rd. – Claire Milbrath
Louis Fratino 2 A.M. Shower, 2018
oil on canvas
12 by 9 inches
Louis Fratino Waking Up, 2018
oil and crayon canvas
18 by 36 inches
Angela Dufresne Reading Club 1, 2017
oil on canvas
31.5 by 22.5 inches
Angela Dufresne Reading Club 2, 2017
oil on canvas
31.5 by 22.5 inches
Louis Fratino Reconfiguration, 2018
oil, crayon and oil stick on canvas
30 by 30 inches
Lou Fratino & Angela Dufresne’s Glazed
“Only connect!…Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer.” – E.M. Forester
Two artists, at different junctures of their careers, explore themes of intimacy within the context of a queer dialogue in Glazed, the duo painting show currently up at Monya Rowe Gallery in New York. Angela Dufresne channels E.M. Forster’s “Only connect” concept with her paintings depicting pre-internet, 1950s-esque family narratives. While nostalgic almost to the point of Coca-Cola commerciality, Dufresne’s idealized familial scenes mean to rebel against our era’s drive for hyper-connectivity, which arguably only propagates apathy and isolation. Lou Fratino’s homoerotic portraits are romantic and emotional – idealized male bodies embracing with bolded muscles in the stylized, oil crayon flourish. Dufresne and Fratino traverse their queer identities in these outwardly “classic” scenes of love and family. Glazed is on view at Monya Rowe Gallery until August 3rd. – Claire Milbrath
Louis Fratino
2 A.M. Shower, 2018
oil on canvas
12 by 9 inches
Waking Up, 2018
oil and crayon canvas
Angela Dufresne
Reading Club 1, 2017
oil on canvas
31.5 by 22.5 inches
Angela Dufresne
Reading Club 2, 2017
oil on canvas
31.5 by 22.5 inches
Louis Fratino
Reconfiguration, 2018
oil, crayon and oil stick on canvas
30 by 30 inches