Herbert Gentry at N'Namdi Gallery / Chelsea NYC . 15 February 2008

For Immediate Release / Contact Information
Alaina Simone (alaina@grnnamdi.com)
526 W. 26th St. #316
New York, NY 10001
voice(212) 929-6645
fax (212)929-1661

The Man, The Master, The Magic”
Paintings and Drawings by Herbert Gentry (1919-2003)

New York, NY (January 24th, 2008) - G.R. N’Namdi Gallery is pleased to announce the Opening Reception for Herbert Gentry’s retrospective exhibition, entitled “The Man, The Master, The Magic” celebrating over forty years of work on February 15th, 2008 from 6 until 10 pm. This retrospective exhibition runs from 15 February thru 12 April 2008. The opening reception is sponsored by Uptown Magazine and Martell.

The paintings and drawings in this retrospective exhibition vary in size and range from 1964 until 2003. Gentry’s formation as a painter should be considered in light of the passion he brought to his identity as a painter, “A painter paints, a fighter fights, a writer writes,” he would say. Gentry painted his world on canvas, alluding to his fascination with the power of social relationships and the allure of the journey. His aesthetic speaks through decisive lines and a strong sense of composition. His canvasses are intuitively descriptive of his international experiences living in Harlem and throughout Europe. He stated: “Painting is very much about sex, it’s about love, it’s about putting things together”. The drawings featured in this exhibition, although as extemporaneous as his paintings, are more laid-back and lovely. They're filled with sinfully sinuous lines forming erotic shapes inspired by the curvaceous form of the female body.

Herbert Gentry (1919-2003) was born in Pittsburgh and raised in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance. His mother, originally from Jamaica, was a dancer and Ziegfeld Follies showgirl, fostered his artistic sensibilities by exposing him to art museums, jazz music and the theatre. ”Harlem prepared me for Paris,” Gentry confirmed when he arrived in 1946 to study painting on the G.I. Bill. Following his Service in the U.S. Army during World War II, Gentry moved to Paris, and studied at L’Academie de la Grande Chaumiere and remained there to hone his talents in a freer and more accepting racial and cultural environment.

An exhibition catalogue featuring texts and photographs of the artist and his work will be available. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11-6pm or by appointment. Please contact alaina.grnnamdi@gmail.com for additional information.

View the entire press release at my Google Documents.