Peggy Preheim: Little Black Book

August 10, 2008 to February 8, 2009 |

Best known for her exquisitely rendered pencil drawings on paper—and occasionally on various international bank notes—Peggy Preheim also creates figurative sculpture and photographs. Her meticulous sculptural assemblages often feature white clay figures and found objects, including furniture, doll’s clothes, and Victorian glass. Her atmospheric black and white photographs are based on her sculptural work. At the core of Preheim’s art is her drawing; small-scale, tightly rendered work that explores highly nuanced imagery related to memory, sexuality, aging, and the complex inner relationship of childhood to adulthood.

Of the title Preheim says, “I think Little Black Book can serve as a provocative and enigmatic summing up of the work in the exhibition. This concept can refer to many things: for me, it refers to the closing of one chapter and the opening of another; the acquisition of language; the ‘book’ which appears in some of my allegorical drawings points to the Book of Revelations.”

The Aldrich will host a public reception on Sunday, September 14, 2008, from 3 to 5 pm to celebrate Peggy Preheim: Little Black Book as well as five other new exhibitions, including Huma Bhabha: 2008 Emerging Artist Award Exhibition; Karin Davie: Symptomania; Lars Fisk: Trashbags; Paul Ramírez Jonas: ABRACADABRA—I Create as I Speak; Video A, Miguel Soares: Jumping Nauman—The Exhibitions of Bruce Nauman in 2006 and Letha Wilson: 16 Possibilities for an 8 Minute Car Drive (Shelburne, Nova Scotia). Elizabeth Peyton: Portrait of an Artist will also be on view. Refreshments will be served. Free round-trip transportation from New York City is available for members.

Following its Aldrich debut, Peggy Preheim: Little Black Book will travel to the Philbrook Museum, Tulsa, OK (May 17 to July 26, 2009), and the Herbert F. Johnson Museum, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (October 31, 2009, to January 3, 2010).