For a decade the fashionable move in painting was to look deliberately unschooled, and this show is a room full of artists who went the other way and got very good at the old apparatus instead. Hung in The Hole's big Bowery flagship, it makes the case that observational rigor is now the more surprising choice. Go if you like being able to see the hours in a picture — and go soon, because the run ends next weekend.
What to expect
A high-ceilinged Bowery gallery hung with figurative and observational painting, spaced generously enough that you can back up and see the work from across the room. Expect close, technical picture-making rather than installation or video. Front desk staff can hand you a checklist with artist names.
Good to know
- Take the 6 to Bleecker Street, or the B, D, F or M to Broadway–Lafayette
- Free to walk in; commercial galleries do not charge admission
- The Bowery space is much larger than The Hole's Tribeca gallery — allow more time
- Summer hours are reduced at many downtown galleries; confirm before making a trip
- Step-free entry from Bowery
- Good for anyone who wants painting they can look at closely rather than concept-first work
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Common questions
What does 'New Traditionalists' mean here?
It refers to contemporary painters using historical technique — observational drawing, layered oil, classical composition — as a current position rather than a revival.
Is there an admission charge?
No. The Hole is a commercial gallery and entry is free during opening hours.
Can I see both of The Hole's shows in one trip?
Yes, but they are in different neighborhoods — the Bowery flagship in NoHo and the Tribeca space on Walker Street, about twenty minutes apart on foot.
More this weekend
