Joan Levinson: Of Prepositions

Of Prepositions by Joan Levinson

Opening April 5, 2018

In English, prepositions are used to establish relationships. They demonstrate or clarify temporal and spatial relationships and connections. And they are the subject of one of the stodgiest rules in English grammar (which everyone should feel to break)??Never end a sentence with a preposition.? The paintings in this exhibition each include a single preposition, and they elevate the position of these small, supportive words to one of greater importance. Focusing attention on such simple words reminds us of the critical role they play in our language, not unlike a creating a still-life painting of an apple or a vase.

My minimalist paintings are a confluence of art and language. In my work, I explore the structure of language and linguistics, as well as the similarities between the creation of visual and literary arts. Building sentences and telling stories is both a narrative and visual experience.

Joan Levinson was born in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. She moved to New York in 1990 and now has a studio in Brooklyn, New York. She has exhibited widely, in both commercial and non-profit venues, in the U.S. and Europe.