Hill Gallery is pleased to present John Duff: Wedges+, a curated exhibition of early fiberglass wedges & urethane sculptures from the 1980’s - 2018. In this exhibition of early wedge sculptures John Duff crafts fascinating objects whose subtly expressive structures, calmly sensuous surfaces, and quietly evocative colors repay sensitive attention & generously reward the imagination. These sculptures are surprisingly light, buoyant, and perfectly at home hovering against the wall. Duff draws attention to the spaces within his sculptures by either slicing open their fiberglass shells to reveal interiors or by allowing the translucency of the fiberglass to admit light into the inner spaces.

In Duff’s urethane sculptures, the memory of the making is revealed in subtle fragments and declared sections of accidental color. The casting of resin into closely packed sphere structures has produced complex mysterious forms that rest, stand and extend from the walls and floor, engaging the viewer in a journey of symmetry and balance. The application of flat primal colors to straight sections of cast resin serve to create simultaneously a new beginning and a definite end.

Robert Samartino, in describing John Duff’s urethane sculptures, states in the 2018 exhibition catalogue Straight Finish, that “The hidden virtuosity of Duff’s sculpture resembles the inner system of an organism hatched from a shell rather than constructed or carved.”

According to Deborah Solomon, “Duff sculptures reveal him to be at the peak of his talents, able to create a completely made up Duffian System that expresses both the coming together side of life and the flying apart side as well” (John Duff: Achieving Necessity, 2016)

John Duff received his B.F.A. degree from the San Francisco Art Institute. He moved to New York City in 1967, where he currently resides. In 1969 he was selected to be included in the now historic sculpture show Anti- Illusion: Procedures/Materials organized by Marcia Tucker & James Monte. That show opened at The Whitney Museum of American Art. The exhibition celebrated works by Lynda Benglis, Carl Andre, Richard Serra, Eva Hesse, Neil Jenney, Barry Le Va, Robert Lobe, Bruce Nauman, Robert Morris, Robert Ryman, Richard Tuttle, Joel Shapiro and others. It introduced John Duff to the greater art world. His works now reside in numerous public & private collections including The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, NY; LACMA, CA; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY; The Whitney Museum of American Art, NY; The Walker Art Center, MN; and The Seattle Art Museum, WA, to name a few. He has received several grants and rewards. Duff has been widely exhibited at galleries and art fairs. This is John Duff’s 4th solo exhibition with Hill Gallery.