Andrew Guenther


Andrew Guenther is an American contemporary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. His work includes painting, sculpture, and photography. Guenther received a BFA from Lawrence University in 1998 and an MFA from Rutgers University in 2000. His art has been exhibited in galleries and institutions in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Artistic style and mediums

Guenther's work combines painting and sculpture and sometimes incorporates unconventional materials such as clothing, sunglasses, cigars, and papier-mâché, with occasional use of gold or silver leaf. Early in his career, his work referenced death metal, mythical creatures, and kitsch culture. In a , Michelle Grabner compared Guenther's imagery to Francisco Goya and Hieronymus Bosch.
Later works moved toward abstract and surreal themes, often incorporating recurring motifs such as a "Plate Face" figure and marine animals like whales and dolphins. These pieces have been compared to Abstract Expressionism and outsider art for their spontaneity.
Guenther's photography is primarily black-and-white with a documentary aesthetic. He has explained that black-and-white imagery reduces cultural references and emphasizes composition and subject matter.

Solo exhibitions

2014

  • "Popcorn Illusions", 106 Green, Brooklyn, NY

    2011

  • "Talking to a Fish and Paraphernalia", Freight + Volume, New York
  • "Corn, Tobacco, and Other Stories", Kaycee Olsen Gallery, Los Angeles

    2010

  • "The Devil's Pants", Motus Fort, Tokyo
  • "Recent Works on Paper", Freight + Volume, New York

    2008

  • "Looking For Culture: Part I", Andrew Rafacz Gallery, Chicago
  • "Looking For Culture: Part III", Freight + Volume, New York

    2007

  • "Things Ingested and the Shapes They Become", Derek Eller Gallery, New York
  • "Standing in Water Up to the Shins, Your Foot Looks at a Minnow and Says, 'Look What I Have Become!'", David Castillo, Miami
  • "The Slap of Bird Shit on Wet Pavement", Mogadishni, Copenhagen

    2006

  • "Reflections of Ourselves From Space", Bucket Rider Gallery, Chicago

    2005

  • "Us and Them", Greener Pastures Gallery Contemporary Art, Toronto

    2004

  • "Something Happened Yesterday and More Things Will Happen Tomorrow", Perry Rubenstein Gallery, New York

    2003

  • "How Do You Waste Your Time", Daniel Silverstein Gallery, New York

    2002

  • "Somewhere Between Good and Evil", Daniel Silverstein Gallery, New York

    Selected bibliography

Books and catalogues

2012: Bua, Matt, and Maximilian Goldfarb, eds., Architectural Inventions: Visionary Drawing of Buildings. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd.
2008: Mullins, Charlotte, ed., Painting People: Figure Painting Today. New York: Distributed Art Publishers, 2008.
2005: The Triumph of Painting. London: Jonathan Cape, 2005.

Articles

2012: Landes, Jennifer. "The Art Scene: 09.13.12." The East Hampton Star, September 11, 2012. http://www.easthamptonstar.com/?q=Arts/2012911/Art-Scene-091312
2011: Pelleteri, Carrisa. "Featured Artist: Andrew Guenther." ARTCARDS Review, March 8, 2011.
2009: Whitehot Magazine. "Andrew Guenther @ Freight and Volume — Looking for Culture Part III: Back to My Old Ways." January 2009.
2006: Grabner, Michelle. "Andrew Guenther, Bucket Rider Gallery." Artforum, November 2006.
2005: Comer-Greene, Rachel. "Sticks & Stones." Time Out New York, August 11–17, 2005.
2005: "'You are Here' charts critical look at artistic frontier." The Big Bend Sentinel, October 6, 2005.
2004: "Mixed Paint: A Survey of Contemporary Painters." Flash Art, November–December 2004.