Brian Wills: Oscillations
Nye+Brown November 2013
2685 South La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90034
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Nye+Brown is pleased to present an exhibition with Brian Wills titled Oscillations. In this new body of work, Wills
continues to manipulate materials to extraordinary ends,
combining formal inspiration and technical acumen to fur-
ther his perceptual investigations of light, color, and space. Composed primarily of thread and wood, these constructions easily traverse between painting and object.
There are several distinct modes of work included in
the exhibition, each emphasize a particular quality of the
materials used. The polyurethane pieces encase strands of
thread on a smooth wood backed surface, allowing graphic lines to form elegant compositions beneath a reflective
surface. “Intersection” and “column” pieces highlight the
spectral colors and vibrancy of the rayon thread, while the
“hovering” pieces lift thread from the surface to become a secondary picture plane. Lastly, the architectural “wedg-
es” capitalize on the luminosity of the thread as light enters from different angles. Works take on a life of their own— shifting and vibrating; exploiting Wills’ ability to elevate simple materials to astonishing heights.
Wills is a graduate of Denison and Harvard Universi-
ties. His work has been included in numerous exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Tokyo, Germany and London. Brian Wills lives and works in Los Angeles.
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Untitled, 2013 Single strand rayon thread on wood (4) 12 x 24 in. panels
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Untitled (View 2), 2013 Single strand rayon thread on wood (4) 12 x 24 in. panels
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Untitled, 2013 Enamel, oil, single strand rayon thread and basswood on wood 45 x 6 x 6 in.
Untitled, 2013 Single strand rayon thread, enamel, basswood on wood 36 x 36 in.
Untitled (Detail), 2013 Single strand rayon thread, enamel, basswood on wood 36 x 36 in.
Untitled, 2013 Oil, single strand rayon thread, basswood on wood 24 x 31 x 18 in.
Untitled (View 2), 2013 Oil, single strand rayon thread, basswood on wood 24 x 31 x 18 in.
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Untitled (Detail), 2013 Oil, single strand rayon thread, basswood on wood 24 x 31 x 18 in.
Untitled, 2013 Single strand rayon thread on wood 24 x 48 in.
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Untitled (View 2 & 3), 2013 Single strand rayon thread on wood 24 x 31 x 18 in.
Untitled, 2013 Single strand rayon thread on wood (4) 12 x 96 in. panels
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Untitled (View 2), 2013 Single strand rayon thread on wood (4) 12 x 96 in. panels
Untitled, 2013 Enamel, single strand rayon thread, basswood on wood 36 x 61.5 x 18.5 in.
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Untitled (View 2 & 3), 2013 Enamel, single strand rayon thread, basswood on wood 36 x 61.5 x 18.5 in.
Untitled (Detail), 2013 Enamel, single strand rayon thread, basswood on wood 36 x 61.5 x 18.5 in.
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Untitled, 2013 Oil and single strand rayon threadon wood 36 x 36 in.
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Untitled (View 2), 2013 Oil and single strand rayon threadon wood 36 x 36 in.
Untitled, 2013 Oil and single strand rayon thread on wood 24 x 96 in.
Untitled (Detail), Untitled, 2013 2013 Enamel Oil and single and single strand strand rayonrayon thread on wood 24 x 96 in.
Untitled, 2013 Enamel, Single strand rayon thread and basswood on wood 24 x 35 x 16 in.
Untitled (View 2 & 3), 2013 Enamel, Single strand rayon thread and basswood on wood 24 x 35 x 16 in.
Untitled, 2013 Single strand rayon thread, oil and linear polyurethane on wood 36 x 48 in.
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Untitled, 2013 Enamel and single strand rayon thread on wood 36 x 48 in.
Untitled (Detail), Untitled, 2013 2013 Single strand Enamel and single rayonstrand thread, rayon oil and linear polyurethane thread on wood on wood 36 x 48 in.
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Untitled, 2013 Oil and single strand rayon thread on wood 36 x 36 in
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Untitled, 2013 Oil and single strand rayon thread on wood 36 x 36 in
Untitled (Detail), 2013 Oil and single strand rayon thread on wood 36 x 36 in.
Untitled, 2013 Single strand rayon thread on wood 16 x 60 in.
Untitled (View 2), 2013 Single strand rayon thread on wood 16 x 60 in.
2685 South La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90034 galley@nyeplusbrown.com 310 559 5215 nyeplusbrown.com Digital catalog published in conjunction with Brian Wills: Oscillations Photography by Robert Wedemeyer Installation photography by Eric Minh Swenson Design by The Common Assembly