Spoofing the Self-Portrait: Joshua Abelow at Wasserman

An oil-on-burlap self-portrait from 2011 by Joshua Abelow, one of several self-portraits on display at Wasserman Projects. Joshua Abelow's childish self-portraits are deceptively complex. Like his Art Brut and CoBrA artist predecessors, Abelow uses squiggles, line drawings, and simple icons to investigate deep issues of libidinal drive, neurotic complexes, and the psychological role of humor in self-portraiture. His show at Wasserman Projects presents a straightforward collection of 16 paintings...