Nicole Eisenman

This first monograph devoted to the work of the influential and transgressive New York City painter of all things excessive, queer, abject, kitsch and twisted features selected works from 1994-2004--including drawings, paintings, collages and installations. Eisenman's work runs the gamut of visual references from Surrealism to Pointillism to WPA murals to name but a few, deftly moving from orgiastic crowds to Dionysian sacrifices, minotaur hunts and romps through art history and pop culture. Yet the wit and scope of Eisenman's vision often disguise the intimacy of her work. Here, cliches are turned inside out, gender roles are questioned and one is engaged without fully realizing that the lushly painted scenes are always revealing something very personal. Features an essay by the painter Amy Sillman, a "panel discussion" between some of Eisenman's paintings by Matt Sharpe and a biography.