Labor Day Weekend is summer's last official hurrah with three-day-weekend celebrations enlivening the final days of August and the early days of September. Art in The Hamptons has been especially strong as of late with promises of an especially vibrant fall. If you're looking for art this Labor Day Weekend in The Hamptons, you won't have to look far.
Hamptons Art Hub staff has put together our list of 20 art shows or outdoor installations to put on yours this holiday weekend. Looking for things to do for a cultural infusion over Labor Day Weekend? Click here. Need even more art options? Visit our Exhibition Finder to get an even broader range of the possibilities for art in The Hamptons.
In the meantime, read on for our picks of the best 20 art exhibitions or installations not to miss this holiday weekend.
Bridgehampton
1. “Keith Sonnier: Dis-Play II” at The Dan Flavin Art Institute
On view through May 26, 2019.
The Dan Flavin Art Institute presents “Keith Sonnier: Dis-Play II,” an environmental installation of foam rubber, fluorescent powder, strobe light, black light, neon, plywood, and glass. Dis-Play II (1970), first exhibited in the Castelli Warehouse in New York in 1970, is an environmental installation of foam rubber, fluorescent powder, strobe light, black light, neon, plywood, and glass. It is shown with "Film and Videos 1968–1977," a selection reflecting Sonnier’s decade-long exploration of sound and media work.
Pair this installation with a visit to the Parrish and their sprawling solo show of Keith Sonnier's art and you've got yourself an afternoon. Before leaving Dan Flavin, be sure to visit the permanent exhibition of Flavin's work on view. It always seems a surprise to find such vibrant colorful works tucked inside the traditional wood clad building a few steps away from Bridgehampton's bustling Main Street.
The Dan Flavin Art Institute is located at 23 Corwith Ave, Bridgehampton, NY 11932. www.diaart.org
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Keith Sonnier, installation view, the Dan Flavin Art Institute, Bridgehampton, NY. © Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo: Bill Jacobson Studio, New York.
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2. “Kiss and Tell” at RJD Gallery
On view through October 1, 2018.
It's easy to know what to expect when walking through the door of RJD Gallery in Bridgehampton: figurative narrative paintings from artists worth knowing. Equally consistent in presenting painters in American Magical Realism with a touch of Surrealism, "Kiss and Tell" is an especially strong show that feels more like a series of intimate solo shows than a group one. Featuring paintings by relative newcomers to RJD Gallery are Mary Jane Ansell, Kris Lewis, Matt R. Martin along with Andrea Kowch.
RJD Gallery is located at 2385 Main Street, Bridgehampton, New York 11932. www.rjdgallery.com.
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"Starla" by Kris Lewis. Oil on Canvas. 30 x 30 inches. Courtesy of RJD Gallery.
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3. "Outside the Box" at The White Room Gallery
On view through September 18, 2018.
If you're looking for art inspired by horses, then head to The White Room Gallery. As part of The White Room Gallery's group show, “Outside the Box,” arresting gestural paintings by Donna Bernstein are hard to look away from. The show pairs her airy work with intense narrative collages by Jackie Fuchs and equally colorful and intense abstract works by Karen L. Kirshner.
Making his debut with colorful abstract paintings is Steve Cohen, a famous lighting designer whose created illuminated lightscapes for Billy Joel for 40 plus years along with The Eagles, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, Lenny Kravitz, The Global Citizens Initiative, Brittany Spears, Paul Simon and countless festival installations.
The White Room Gallery is located at 2415 Main Street, Bridgehampton, NY 11932. www.thewhiteroom.gallery.
For a Preview: "White Room Gallery Opens "Outside the Box"
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"Razzle Dazzle" by Karen L. Kirshner. Acrylic on canvas 30 x 24 inches. Courtesy The White Room Gallery.
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East Hampton
4. “Mail Art” at Keyes Art Gallery
On view through August 31, 2018.
“Mail Art” pairs a historic artist with a contemporary one who each make use of text in innovative ways. Ray Johnson, one of the earliest pop artists and the father of “Mail Art,” created works using strips of printed images accompanied by his signature “bunny head.” [Mail Art refers to the mailing of small, postcard sized artworks to an international network of artists known as the New York Correspondence School.’
Scott Covert is known for transforming graveyard rubbing into high art visiting graveyards of various cultural luminaries. Paired together, the artist provide an art history continuum at an easy glance.
The gallery also exhibits “Bert Stern – Shapes & Symbols Early Advertising Works 1953-1970.” Bert Stern, credited with having redefined advertising imagery in the 1950s, became one of the top advertising photographers of his time. The exhibition features many works never before publicly displayed outside of publications, from the early fifties through the early seventies. On view through September 30, 2018.
Keyes Art Gallery is located at 53 The Circle on Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.juliekeyesart.com.
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Artwork by Scott Covert. Courtesy of Keyes Art.
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5. “Ellsworth Kelly in the Hamptons” at Guild Hall
On view through October 8, 2018.
Guild Hall presents "Ellsworth Kelly in the Hamptons," an exhibition featuring works made by the artist on the East End.
Ellsworth Kelly, renowned American Abstract artist, spent two year-long stints on the East End during the 1960’s while he was in his late 30’s and early 40’s. The exhibition presents artworks made during these two retreats which includes paintings, sculptures, works on paper and photographs. Includes art that may be known to Kelly fans and is making its debut on the East End.
Guild Hall is located at 158 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.guildhall.org.
6. “Lucien Smith: Tulips” at The Fireplace Project
On view through September 9, 2018.
“Lucien Smith: Tulips!” is the final show at the seasonal The Fireplace Project, located in historic Springs. While Lucien Smith is best known for his process-based abstract paintings, he creates work traversing a spectrum of styles. Smith lives and works in New York and Los Angeles, CA. Catch the exhibition while you can.
The Fireplace Project is located at 851 Springs Fireplace Rd, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.thefireplaceproject.com.
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"Untitled (Tulip 01)" by Lucien Smith 2018. Oil on linen. 14 x 14 inches. Courtesy of the Fireplace Project.
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7. “Montauk Highway II: Postwar Abstraction in the Hamptons” at Eric Firestone Gallery
On view through September 23, 2018.
Lecture on The Signa Gallery: 1957-1960 on Friday, August 31, 2018 at 6:30 p.m.
"Montauk Highway II: Postwar Abstraction in the Hamptons" is the second part of a historic reveal that began last summer. The current edition includes work from more than 30 artists that played an important role in Abstract Expressionism and had studios in the Hamptons area. On the list of those with art in the show include Conrad Marca-Relli, Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, James Brooks, Lee Bontecou, Nicholas Carone, Ray Parker and Giorgio Cavallon.
Walking into the gallery is transportive and give substance to what it means to walk among giants. Grounding the exhibition in East Hampton history finds form in a lecture given by Helen Harrison on The Signa Gallery, an artist-run gallery that showed giants before they become so.
Eric Firestone Gallery is located at 4 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.ericfirestonegallery.com.
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"Untitled" by Lee Bontecou c. 1957-58. Terracotta. 12 1/4 x 5 7/8 x 3 7/8 inches. Courtesy of Eric Firestone Gallery.
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8. “Glade Hits” at Halsey Mckay Gallery
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 1, 2018 from 6 - 8 p.m.
On view through November 4, 2018.
Even though it hasn't opened yet, “Glade Hits” feels like a show of substance formed by work of artists who are mostly no stranger to Halsey Mckay Gallery. Expect art that aims to transform the innocuous landscape genre as commentary on modern social unrest, environmental violence and existential concerns. The artist line up features work by Glen Baldridge, Jean-Baptiste Bernadet, Ben Blatt, Patrick Brennan, Shara Hughes, Lauren Luloff, Shaun O’Dell, Hilary Pecis, Jerry The Marble Faun and William Villalongo.
Upstairs, Brian Graf opens his second Solo Show with "Paradise Window." The work on view is a continuation of Graf's exploration of techniques and materials through an adoption of a multi-faceted approach to photography.
Halsey Mckay Gallery is located at 79 Newtown Ln, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.halseymckay.com.
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"Upstairs" by Bryan Graf. Courtesy of Halsey Mckay Gallery.
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9. Kenny Schachter Retrospective at RENTAL Gallery
On view through October 31, 2018.
A dramatic show can be found at RENTAL Gallery in "Kenny Schachter Retrospective." The exhibition includes a floor-to-ceiling wall installation of wallpaper made up of Schachter's artnet News columns along with his art that includes video, photography, sculpture, text art and other mediums. Conceptual in nature, Schachter's work explores the life, work and feigned death of the art-world provacateur, explains RENTAL.
RENTAL Gallery is located at 87 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.rentalgallery.us.
10. "Grafik: Curated by Ryan McGinness" at Harper's Books
On view through October 10, 2018.
It's intriuging to see the choices an artist makes when curating a show culled from (mostly) contemporaries. "Grafik" satisfies the curiosity factor and goes beyond in a dynamic show curated by Ryan McGinness. The line up is a bright mix that keeps visitors engaged from start to finish. Don't miss the installation of Jenny Holzer's Conclusion, 2016, on the second floor gallery.
The artist line up includes art by Matthew King, Gerold Miller, Richard Phillips, Erik Parker, Greg Bogin, Wendy White, Beverly Fishman, Richard Roth, Michael Bevilacqua, Nicholas Krushenick, Sol Lewitt, Robert Moreland, Peter Halley, Paul Morrison and McGinness himself.
Harper's Books is located at 87 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.harpersbooks.com.
11. “Under the Sun” Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition at the Arts Center at Duck Creek
On view through October 15, 2018.
"Under the Sun" is the second annual outdoor sculpture exhibition presented on the grounds of the relatively new Arts Center at Duck Creek. Organized by Loring Bolger, the group show reveals contemporary sculptors working in The Hamptons. Exhibiting artists includes Ted Tyler, Dennis Leri, Mica Marder, Elaine Grove, James DeMartis, Aurelio Torres, Michael Chiarello, Bill Kiriazis and Mary Antczak and The line up includes William King (1925-2015).
The Arts Center at Duck Creek is located at 127 Squaw Road, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.duckcreekarts.org.
RELATED: “Under the Sun” Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition Opens at The Arts Center at Duck Creek Farm"
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"Pure Form #5" by Dennis Leri. Photo courtesy Duck Creek Farm.
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12. Parrish Road Show: “Jeremy Dennis: Stories—Dreams, Myths and Experiences” at the Arts Center at Duck Creek
On view through September 3, 2018.
Jeremy Dennis, a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, explores indigenous identity, assimilation and tradition through the lens of a millennial using photography. In creating his images, Dennis sets up supernatural images to transform native American stories, myths and legends into depictions of virtual reality. The Arts Center is open Friday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Or, to schedule an appointment, visit parrishart.org
The Arts Center at Duck Creek is located at 127 Squaw Road, East Hampton, NY. 11937. www.duckcreekarts.org.
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"Chokanipok (Man of Flint)" by Jeremy Dennis, 2015. Photograph, 24.1 x 36.1 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Parrish Art Museum.
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Quogue
13. “Raymond Hendler: Time of the Metaphor” at Quogue Gallery
On view through September 30, 2018.
Art by Raymond Hendler (1923-1998) has its second solo show at the Quogue Gallery. “Raymond Hendler: Time of the Metaphor” focuses on the artist's work on canvas and paper from the 1950s to the 1990s.
Hendler began his career as an Abstract Expressionist as early as 1949 in Paris and was widely considered a first generation action painter upon his return to New York. Playing a significant role in the Abstract Expressionist movement, both in New York and Philadelphia, he was a friend of Franz Kline, Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, and ran Philadelphia's first avant-garde gallery between 1952 and 1954.
Hendler has ties to The Hamptons, having spent the latter part of his life here. Hendler's art was reviewed for Hamptons Art Hub during his 2014 solo show at Quogue Gallery and his 2018 solo show at Berry Campbell in Chelsea, New York.
Quogue Gallery is at 44 Quogue Street, Quogue, NY 11959. quoguegallery.com
RELATED: “Raymond Hendler: Time of the Metaphor” Opens at Quogue Gallery August 25, 2018
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"The Grand Butterfly Event" by Raymond Hendler 1971. Acyrlic on canvas, 27 x 23 inches. Courtesy of Quogue Gallery.
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14. Outdoor Sculpture by Melinda Zox at Quogue Library
On view: Through September 30, 2018.
Hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Melinda Zox has sculpture installed on the grounds of the Quogue Library as part of its new "Uplift Outdoor Sculpture" Series Artist of the Month.
Zox is a contemporary abstract expressionism-inspired painter who studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City under Frank Roth. She is also the daughter of abstract painter Larry Zox, who played an essential role in the Color Field discourse of the 1960s and 1970s, and artist Jean Glover Zox. Last year, she had a solo show of paintings at the Quogue Gallery. Click here to read a review.
Quogue Library is located at 90 Quogue Street, Quogue, NY 11959. www.quoguelibrary.org
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"Marker Tree" by Melinda Zox 2018. Steel sculpture. 5' x 41/2' x 4'. Courtesy Quogue Library.
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Remsenburg
15. Parrish Road Show: “Esly E. Escobar: Playground” at the Remsenburg Academy
On view through September 15, 2018.
Hours: Outdoor installation visible at all times.
Esly E. Escobar’s Playground consists of figures and “toys” (smaller sculptures made of the same materials) composed of almost 10,000 balls used for tennis, golf, soccer, basketball and football. The balls were donated by sport and private clubs as well as individuals living on the East End and some even display their logos. Playground comments on the East End residents, their passion for sports, and the joy of children from all families playing in a communal space.
The Remsenburg Academy is located at 130 South Country Road, Remsenburg, NY 11960. www.remsenburgassociation.com/the-remsenburg-academy.html
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"Work in progress" by Esly E. Escobar. Courtesy of Parrish Art Museum.
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Sag Harbor
16. “Ben Fenske” at Grenning Gallery
On view through September 16, 2018.
Ben Fenske’s solo show at Grenning Gallery includes interiors, still lives, and landscapes from in and around his home in Greve, Italy. A recurring favorite among the Grenning Gallery stable of artists, Fenske is a contemporary realism painting whose work is in the spirit of the 19th and 20th century impressionists and presents information and contemporary scenes.
Grenning Gallery is located at 17 Washington Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963. www.grenninggallery.com
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"Poppies II" by Ben Fenske 2018. Oil on canvas. 23.62 x 19.69 inches. Courtesy of Grenning Gallery.
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17. “Stephen Wilkes” at Tulla Booth
On view through September 27, 2018.
Opening Reception with Artist: Friday, August 31, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Stephen Wilkes's "Day-to-Night" photographs capture images of single locations and cities around the world as they transition from day to night. The images are made while Wilkes is perched on a 50-foot crane for some 16 to 30 hours in order to capture a full day in a single image after piecing the frames together in post-production, compressing the time into a singular experience.
Tulla Booth Gallery is located at 66 Main Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963. www.tullaboothgallery.com
RELATED: “Photographer Stephen Wilkes Condenses Time in “Day to Night” Series Opening at Tulla Booth Gallery
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"Brooklyn Bridge, Day to Night" by Stephen Wilkes 2016. Digital C-print. ©Stephen Wilkes. Courtesy Tulla Booth Gallery.
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Southampton
18. “COUNTERPOINT: Selections from The Peter Marino Collection”at Southampton Arts Center
On view through September 23, 2018.
“Counterpoint” at Southampton Arts Center includes artworks by Warhol, Mapplethorpe, Hirst, Haring, Kiefer, and Baselitz, to name a few. Selected from the private collection of Peter Marino, he has personally organized the show which is presented in four separate themes and galleries. Taking on the feel of a private home, galleries include The Gardens Gallery, The Pop Art Gallery, The Treasury Room and The Modern German Art Gallery. The exhibition includes daily screenings at noon of the opera Orfeo et Eurdice. Presented in the theater, the work was commissioned and performed in the NYC living room of Peter Marino.
Southampton Arts Center is located at 25 Jobs Lane, Southampton, NY 11968. www.southamptonartscenter.org
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"Lehr nich ratte much wilm (Lelf bal wile)" by Georg Baselitz 2013. Oil on canvas. 118 1/8 × 108 1/4 inches. © Georg Baselitz 2018. Courtesy of Southampton Arts Center.
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Water Mill
19. Keith Sonnier's “Until Today” at The Parrish Art Museum
On view through January 27, 2019.
“Until Today” is Keith Sonnier’s first solo exhibition in 35 years in an American Museum. Sonnier is credited for radically reframing the idea of sculpture through conceptual, post-minimal, video and performance art. The exhibition features over 30 works including neon sculptures, sound pieces, a site specific neon installation and work rarely shown in the U.S.
The Parrish Art Museum is located at 279 Montauk Highway Water Mill, NY 11976. www.parrishart.org
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"Shmoo - O.G.V." by Keith Sonnier 2013 (Elysian Plain Series). Neon, acrylic, aluminum, electrical wire, transformer. 131 x 92 1/2 x 4 inches. Courtesy of the Artist and Pace Gallery, New York. Photograph: © Caterina Verde. Courtesy Parrish Art Museum.
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20. “Platform: Barthélémy Toguo” at The Parrish Art Museum
On view through October 14, 2018.
As this year's Parrish Art Museum's Platform series, “Barthélémy Toguo: The Beauty of Our Voice” takes over parts of the art museum and made it his own. Internationally, renowned, Tuguo’s multidisciplinary work addresses mobility, colonialism, race and the relationship between the global north and south. The exhibition--which spans several galleries--includes Road to Exile, a wooden boat the artist built at Watermill Center. Installed around Road to Exile are nautical paintings, drawings and etchings selected by Toguo from the museum’s permanent collection.
This is Toguo’s first solo exhibition in the U.S. and also the first solo show for an African artist at the Parrish,
The Parrish Art Museum is located at 279 Montauk Highway Water Mill, NY 11976. www.parrishart.org
RELATED: Barthélémy Toguo Offers Soulful International Voices to The Hamptons
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The Parrish Art Museum's Platform Exhibition, 2018, "Barthélémy Toguo: The Beauty of Our Voice," Installation view: "Road to Exile." Photo: Jenny Gorman. Courtesy Parrish Art Museum.
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ARTIST BONUS ROUND
If finding artists living and working in The Hamptons is on your mind, never fear. Here's a short list of exhibitions featuring work by artists living and working in The Hamptons right now:
SAG HARBOR
Romany Kramoris Gallery: "Barbara Groot and Thomas Condon." Thru Sept 6, 2018
41 Main Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963. Click here to preview.
Sara Nightingale Gallery: Perry Burns: Flower Galaxies" Thru Sept 22, 2018.
26 Main Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11973. Click here to preview.
SOUTHAMPTON
MM Fine Art: "Joey Farrell: SEVENTEEN." Thru Sept 2, 2018.
4 North Main Street, Southampton, NY 11968. Click here to preview.
EAST HAMPTON
Damien Roman Fine Art: "Michele Dragonetti – Re-emergent." Thru Oct 1, 2018.
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 1, 2018, from 6 to 8 p.m.
66 Park Pl, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.romanfineart.com.
Studio 11: "Eugene Brodsky." Thru Sept 4, 2018.
74 Montuak Highway at Red Horse Plaza. www.studio11.org.
AMAGANSETT
Amagansett Historical Society's Jackson Carriage House: FolioEast presents "BOLD." Thru Sept 3, 2108.
Opening Reception: Friday, August 31, 2018 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Group show includes art by area artists Perry Burns, James DeMartis, Pamela Dove, Jonathan Glynn, Barbara Groot, Bill Kiriazis & Mary Antczak, Dennis Leri, David Rufo and Aurelio Torres.
129 Main St, Amagansett, NY 11930. www.folioeast.com.
MONTAUK
Boo-Hooray: "Dalton Portella: Inside Out." Thru Sept 7, 2018.
Opening Reception: Saturday, Sept 1, 2018 from 4 to 7 p.m.
649 Montuak Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954. www.daltonportella.com
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"20 Hamptons Art Shows for Labor Day Weekend" was co-written by Sarah Drake and Pat Rogers.
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Copyright 2018 Hamptons Art Hub LLC. All rights reserved.