Bascha Mon

Tappeto Volante is proud to present Bascha Mon: A Celebratory Retrospective of an Artist’s Life and Journey of Dreaming, Perseverance, Activism, & Unconscious Expression, a solo exhibition showcasing drawings and paintings from 1968 to 2024. This exhibition, her first solo show in New York City in nearly fifty years, offers a comprehensive view of Mon's lifetime commitment to art, which spans a century marked by profound political, cultural, and social transformations. Her work critically examines themes of personal identity and systemic challenges, positioning her art as a vital exploration of the intersection between personal agency and societal constraints.

Born in Newark, NJ, in 1932, Bascha Mon’s early aspirations in acting were curtailed by societal expectations and her role as a young mother, leading her to art as a means of self-expression. Enrolling at the Art Students League in her thirties, Mon confronted biases against women artists and developed a body of work that spans intimate interior landscapes, installations, sculpture, and printmaking. Her art reflects a deeply introspective and feminist lens, exploring themes such as personal identity, migration, and nature.

Mon's persistence led her to exhibit widely, with her work housed in prestigious institutions such as the Osaka Contemporary Art Center, the Newark Museum, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. A notable moment in her career came in 1991, when she made an award-winning print that took her to Japan, sparking her exploration of installation art. Although her progress was often hindered by health setbacks and domestic challenges, Mon continued painting in seclusion, meanwhile corresponding with a global community of artists, which allowed her to transcend the physical isolation of her basement studio.

In 2019, Mon presented "New Land," a large-scale project on immigration that received critical acclaim for its nuanced exploration of multiracial dynamics and democratic ideals in the United States. While working daily on this 280-drawing series, Bascha drew inspiration from the piano compositions of Olivier Messiaen, where the interplay of sound and color in her studio profoundly informed and inspired her work. In 2024, JJ Manforf, artist and co-founder of Tappeto Volante, proposed Mon's inclusion in the gallery's group exhibition, La Banda, after connecting with her.

Opening on September 18th at Tappeto Volante Bascha Mon's Solo Show is a condensed retrospective that highlights select works made within the span of six decades, from her early days at the Art Students League to her latest creations, made from her live-work space in New Jersey, where she currently resides. The exhibition demonstrates Mon's dedication to painting and activism, showcasing her unique exploration of color as an independent element in her art. It features works from the 1970s, including the Prince Street period, where she masterfully combines form and color, creating patterns and textures reminiscent of fabric that imbue her paintings with symbolic depth.

Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, Mon's works evolved with series like "Maps + Games" and "Recollection," characterized by vibrant tones, dynamic gestures, and an exploration of the materiality of paint. Her compositions often evoke aerial views, blending abstraction with representation through stained surfaces and expressive brushwork. In the 1990s and 2000s, Mon's experimentation expanded into larger canvases, installations, and sculptures, emphasizing spontaneity and the fluidity of form. She continued to use color boldly, often through irregular and organic shapes that underscore her commitment to exploring its sensory and emotional dimensions. In her later works on paper from the 2010s and 2020s, Mon maintains color as a central subject, contrasting geometric forms with soft, cloud-like shapes. This juxtaposition of sheer and opaque tones reflects her sustained engagement with the natural world, her ongoing inquiry into the perceptual boundaries of color.

This exhibition celebrates Bascha Mon’s artistic achievements, resilience, and enduring vision that transcends traditional boundaries. It invites reflection on her journey, the evolution of her work, and the profound impact of her legacy.