“I Wish I Were the Night”, New Paintings by Gilles Combet

San Francisco, CA – February 25, 2006 - announcement - Newmark Gallery presents “I Wish I Were the Night”, abstract paintings by Gilles Combet, opening March 28, 2006 and running through May 6, 2005. There will be a public reception for the artist, Thursday, April 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Working primarily in abstraction, Combet has developed the ability to simultaneously craft and improvise with the same stroke. His work is deeply structured, the palette is controlled and savory while keeping a feeling of mad abandonment of style and form. Yet one could argue that he’s primarily a formalist in his approach to abstraction. This is the wonderful contradiction that effuses his work with energy. These new paintings initially present as quite serious, even as one’s “inner child” delights in a subliminal recognition. There is joyfulness, elation even, reminiscent of Theodor Geisel.

Combet prefers gouache on paper also incorporating graphite and colored pencil. He chooses these materials because they allow him to work quickly and spontaneously, skills he has honed through a parallel discipline of figurative drawing. The paper is then mounted on board, giving the work the substance and dimensionality. The resulting group of paintings showcases a unique and mature voice.

Newmark Gallery San Francisco is located at 251 Post Street, Suite 412 in the Union Square area of San Francisco. We are committed to representing the highest quality contemporary art from the Bay Area and Europe. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 am - 6 pm and by appointment. Please view our website at www.newmarkgallery.com for more information and upcoming events.

If you would like more information on this topic, or to interview Mark Wladika, the gallery director, please email art@newmarkgallery.com or call 415.392.3692.