HENI

06/10/2024

"I really wanted to sit down and make a body of work that shows people that all this noise and all these divisive faces of evil that we’re told matter don’t have to consume your mind and the way you feel about the world." - Wes Lang

Wes Lang's 'The Black Paintings' are available by application through HENI Primary: https://heni.com/primary/release/the-black-paintings

06/10/2024

Known as the master of light, Joaquín Sorolla was a Spanish painter best known for his ability to capture the iridescent sun as it falls on a scene.

Sorolla’s artistic talent emerged early. He began exhibiting at Madrid’s National Exhibition of Fine Arts in his late teens, and at 20, he had his first major painting acquired by the Spanish government.

Want to experience Sorolla’s light-filled works in person? His paintings are on view at the Royal Collections Gallery in Madrid from 17 October 2024 until 16 February 2025.

05/10/2024

Paintings you should know: ‘Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1’ (1871), better known as ‘Whistler’s Mother’ by James McNeill Whistler.

American painter Whistler is the creator of one of the most famous artworks by an American outside of the US, having split his career between London and Paris.

Widely regarded as symbol of motherhood, it depicts a sullen, tight-lipped profile of Whistler’s mother, Anna McNeill Whistler. The composition and subtle grey tonal palette serve as contrasts to Whistler himself, who was infamous for his extravagant dress and social gatherings.

‘Whistler’s Mother’ can be seen at Musee D’Orsay in Paris.

🖼️ ‘Whistler’s Mother’, James McNeill Whistler, 1871.

04/10/2024

Paintings from Wes Lang’s ‘The Black Paintings’ are available by application via HENI Primary: https://heni.com/primary/release/the-black-paintings

Wes Lang's paintings are dense with colour and imagery and are populated by his distinctive group of characters. Can you spot any recurring motifs in the painting details? ➡️

‘The Black Paintings’ are on show at Newport Street Gallery until 9 March 2025. Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 6pm.

03/10/2024

We loved seeing so many of you at our opening event for Wes Lang's ‘The Black Paintings’ exhibition at Damien Hirst's Newport Street Gallery!

Here are some highlights from the evening. The show is open until 9 March 2025. 🥳

You can also see Lang’s works on paper at HENI Gallery in Soho, London, until 22 November 2024.

‘The Black Paintings’ are available by application on HENI Primary: https://heni.com/primary/release/the-black-paintings

02/10/2024

that this painting helped John Singer Sargent restore his reputation?

‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ (1885-86) captures a delicate twilight scene featuring two girls lighting lanterns. Hailed as an “extremely original and daring essay in decoration”, the piece evokes a sense of tranquillity and innocence.

Favourable reviews of the painting helped the American artist overcome the controversy which had arisen following his earlier painting, ‘Madame X’ (1883-84), which was considered lewd at the time.

You can see this painting at Tate Britain.

🖼️ ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’, John Singer Sargent, 1885-86.

30/09/2024

'The Black Paintings' exhibition by Wes Lang is on show at Newport Street Gallery & HENI Gallery.

Learn more about Lang's process behind this series in this new interview between Lang & producer Rick Rubin via YouTube: https://youtu.be/00uWm_-jTW4?si=S5bL4xU7cnCKdwaz

Wes Lang’s universe is horses, reapers, memento mori, and other totems of the American West. Throughout his sometimes frenetic paintings, these emblems of th...

30/09/2024

Francis Bacon’s 1976 painting ‘Figure in Movement’ is a deeply personal and powerful piece, created in the years after the death of his lover and muse, George Dyer. Dyer died the night before a major exhibition of Bacon’s work, the same fate that fell on another of Bacon’s lovers, Peter Lacy.

Depicting two intertwined wrestling figures, the painting explores themes of love, loss and guilt, represented by the presence of a ‘fury’ on the right of the artwork. Like a Greek tragedy, perhaps Bacon also felt unable to escape fate.

🖼️ ‘Figure in Movement’, Francis Bacon, 1976.

Francis Bacon (artist)

29/09/2024

“I don’t want to go do something I know how to do. I want to go do something I don’t know how to do.” - Sheila Hicks

American artist Sheila Hicks is known for her experimental textile sculptures, often made from wool, synthetic thread and linen flax. She spent much of her early life on the road, and her extensive travels have continuously fuelled her exploration of textiles.

Her works explore the interplay between material, colour and space, and are meticulously crafted through wrapping and weaving.

28/09/2024

“I really wanted to sit down and make a body of work that shows people that all this noise and all these divisive faces of evil that we’re told matter don’t have to consume your mind and the way you feel about the world.” - Wes Lang

Wes Lang’s ‘The Black Paintings’ exhibition is now open! 🥳

The exhibition is running at Damien Hirst's Newport Street Gallery until 9 March 2025. Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 6pm.

Works on paper are also on show at HENI Gallery until 22 November 2024. Opening hours are 10am - 6pm, Monday to Friday. Commemorative HATs are available at each location.

‘The Black Paintings’ are available by application on HENI Primary via our link in bio.

26/09/2024

HENI is excited to announce that ‘The Black Paintings’ by Wes Lang are now available by application on HENI Primary.

Apply here: https://heni.com/primary/release/the-black-paintings

‘The Black Paintings’ features 96 paintings and 96 works on paper. All artworks are set within a wooden frame and signed on the back.

The paintings are acrylic on canvas and linen and range in size from 27 x 34.8 cm (framed) to 248.6 x 279 cm (framed).

The works on paper are acrylic, crayon and pencil on paper and come in two sizes, 67 x 87.2 cm (framed) and 87.2 x 67 cm (framed).

The paintings can be viewed in-person at Newport Street Gallery and the works on paper can be viewed at HENI Gallery in London from tomorrow, 27 September, as part of Wes Lang’s ‘The Black Paintings’ exhibition.

25/09/2024

Wes Lang's new exhibition, 'The Black Paintings', opens on Friday 27 September. 😍

📍Join us for the opening event tomorrow, Thursday 26 September, from 6 – 8pm at Damien Hirst's Newport Street Gallery. No RSVP is required.

Want to learn more about Lang and the exhibition?

Check out his interview with GQ: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/wes-lang-exhibition-interview-2024

25/09/2024

Paintings you should know: ‘The Monarch of the Glen’ (c. 1851) by Sir Edwin Landseer. 🦌

English painter Landseer was Queen Victoria’s favourite artist, and this work was commissioned for the Palace of Westminster, in London.

It depicts a majestic royal stag standing proudly against the backdrop of the misty Scottish Highlands, symbolising the rugged beauty and grandeur of Scotland’s natural landscape. Over the years, it has become a cultural symbol, widely reproduced and celebrated.

You can find the painting at the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh.

24/09/2024

HENI is delighted to announce that works on paper by Wes Lang will be on show at HENI Gallery in Soho, London from 27 September until 22 November. Opening times are 10am - 6pm, Monday to Friday.

The drawings will be available to see in person as part of Lang’s ‘The Black Paintings’ exhibition, opening at Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery.

While Wes Lang's paintings are dense with colour and imagery, his drawings are lighter. Often, these works on paper include text, sometimes integrating phrases that echo Taoist philosophy, while other times using more personal expressions.

Learn more about the exhibition: https://heni.com/exhibitions/the-black-paintings

23/09/2024

'INVADER: In Conversation with Hans Ulrich Obrist’ is now available via HENI Publishing, Invader Space Shop and in all good bookshops 📚

The book delves into the world of the enigmatic French street artist Invader, through an interview conducted by Hans Ulrich Obrist. In the first part of the book, readers are guided through the artist’s recent Paris exhibition, Invader Space Station, while the second takes place in the artist’s studio where the conversation continues on a more personal note, offering an intimate look into Invader’s creative world.

Explore the release: https://heni.com/publishing/invader-in-conversation-with-hans-ulrich-obrist

22/09/2024

“All my life I’ve tried to transcribe reality to make it into a kind of dream.” – Paul Delvaux

Belgian painter Paul Delvaux is famed for his dream-like scenes. Often featuring women and classical architecture, a sense intensity is sometimes increased by the inclusion of figures gazing out at the viewer.

He is often associated with the Surrealists, with works by Magritte, Dalí and Ernst influencing his paintings. However, Delvaux himself did not formally associate with the movement.

🖼️ ‘Rosine’, Paul Delvaux.
🖼️ ‘La Fin du voyage’, Paul Delvaux, 1868.
🖼️ ‘La Mer’, Paul Delvaux 1976.

21/09/2024

Setup is underway at Damien Hirst's Newport Street Gallery for Wes Lang’s new exhibition, ‘The Black Paintings’. Here is a sneak peek 👀

The exhibition, arranged in association with HENI, is Wes Lang's first in the UK and will run from 27 September 2024 until 9 March 2025. Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 6pm.

📍Join us for the opening event on Thursday 26 September from 6pm – 8pm at Newport Street Gallery. Everyone is welcome and no RSVP is required.

Plan your visit: https://heni.com/exhibitions/the-black-paintings

20/09/2024

“Most of our male colleagues continued for a long while to look upon us as charming and gifted amateurs, denying us implicitly any real professional status.” - Hannah Höch

German artist Hannah Höch was anything but amateur, pioneering the mediums of collage and photomontage to create striking critiques of early 20th century German politics and society. By carefully layering and splicing together photographs and cuttings from fashion magazines, journals and newspapers, Höch epitomised the Dada movement’s humorous and insightful cultural commentaries.

You can see ‘Hannah Höch: Assembled Worlds’ at Belvedere Museum in Vienna until 6 October 2024.

🖼️ ’Untitled collage’, Hannah Höch, 1930.
🖼️ ’Modenschau (Fashion Show), 1925-35’, Hannah Höch, 1930.
🖼️ ‘From Above’, Hannah Höch,1927.

19/09/2024

Now available on HENI Publishing: ‘The Christo Interviews’ by Hans Ulrich Obrist. 📚

A collection of illustrated conversations between Christo and Hans Ulrich Obrist, featuring previously unpublished material and Christo’s final ever interview.

Taking place between December 2012 and May 2020, the interviews provide insight into the minds of two of the art world’s most esteemed figures, while also charting the entire working relationship between artist and curator, from their very first conversation.

The book includes images of finished works, drawings and archival photographs from Christo and Jeanne Claude’s long career.

Explore the release: https://heni.com/publishing/hans-ulrich-obrist-the-christo-interviews

18/09/2024

It is commonly believed that Vincent van Gogh was never able to sell a single painting during his lifetime. However, he did sell at least one work, the vivid ‘Red Vineyards near Arles’ (1888).

Van Gogh sold the painting in 1890 to Belgian painter and art collector Anna Boch, sister of van Gogh’s friend and fellow painter Eugene Boch. It sold for 400 francs, roughly £2200 in today’s money.

Later, van Gogh wrote that he felt that he should have sold the painting to Boch for a lower “friend’s price”.

🖼️ ‘Red Vineyards near Arles’, Vincent van Gogh, 1888.

17/09/2024

Wes Lang’s first UK exhibition, ‘The Black Paintings’, is opening at Damien Hirst's Newport Street Gallery on 27 September.

📍Join us for the opening event on Thursday 26 September from 6pm – 8pm at Newport Street Gallery. Everyone is welcome and no RSVP is required.

Never-before-exhibited paintings by the American artist Wes Lang will be on show until 9 March 2025. The exhibition will feature works produced between 2022 and 2024 that are populated by Lang’s distinctive group of characters, namely his favoured skeleton, but also animal-like and otherworldly beings.

The exhibition has been arranged in association with HENI. Learn more: https://heni.com/exhibitions/the-black-paintings

15/09/2024

In his ongoing installation and photography series, ‘Tree, Line’, Welsh artist Zander Olsen wraps trees in UK forests with fabric, creating optical illusions that blur the distinction between foreground and background.

By carefully aligning the wrapped trees with key aspects of the background, Zander Olsen reimagines landscapes by manipulating our perception of the natural world.

14/09/2024

that ‘Liberty Leading the People’ is not about the 1789 French Revolution, as most people assume?

This painting by French artist Eugène Delacroix actually depicts the July Revolution of 1830, when the people of Paris rose up against King Charles X. Liberty is personified as a half-nude female leading the charge, and the painting has become the definitive depiction of the personified France (known as Marianne) and an icon of revolutionary insurrections.

You can find ‘Liberty Leading the People’ at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France.

🖼️ ‘Liberty Leading the People’, Eugène Delacroix, 1830.

13/09/2024

“Bad taste is the dream of overly desired beauty.” – Martial Raysse

French artist Martial Raysse’s ‘Made in Japan-La Grande Odalisque’ is a playful reinterpretation of Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres’ ‘La Grande Odalisque’. Raysse’s version uses bold colours, discarded fabrics, and plastic objects, representing the types of items made in Japan at the time.

Raysse was one of the founding members of the Nouveau Réalisme movement, alongside artists like Yves Klein and Arman.

11/09/2024

Otto Dix’s ‘Portrait of the Journalist Sylvia von Harden’ (1926) depicts the prominent German journalist in a candid and unflattering manner.

The painting reflects the disillusionment and cynicism of the Weimar Republic and is an example of the New Objectivity movement, which aimed to capture the realities of modern life.

Von Harden would later recount how Dix stopped her in the street, declaring “I must paint you! I simply must! …You are representative of an entire epoch!”