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Emily Nelligan | Marvin Bileck - Early Drawings | Drawings and Prints - Exhibitions - Alexandre Gallery

Emily Nelligan, Untitled (Maine), c. 1958, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 inches

The gallery is pleased to present a two-person exhibition: Emily Nelligan: Early Drawings and Marvin Bileck: Drawings and Prints. The show remains on view through December 22nd and marks the gallery’s fourth joint showing of these artists’ work. Included are 32 works, all recently uncovered in the studio and have not been previously exhibited.

Nelligan’s (b. 1924) and Bileck’s (1920 – 2005) lives together are a remarkable story of a creative partnership and a celebration of one small remote place – Great Cranberry Island off Mt. Desert – that spanned over more than fifty years. After attending Cooper Union in the 1940s, Nelligan and Bileck heard that one could find small cottages on the water in Maine for less than $100 a season. The two returned each summer until Bileck’s death in 2005 to draw from the land and water around them. During the academic year Bileck taught printmaking at Queens College and maintained a career as an illustrator. In 1965 his beloved Rain Makes Applesauce was awarded a Caldecott. Feeling constrained in New York, Nelligan took various jobs, including looking after others’ children, only drawing a few months each year on Cranberry.

Bileck looked into the woods and shore. The subjects of his meticulous and finely detailed drawings and prints are the complex, tangled and layered landscapes of trees and rocks defined by intricate line. Nelligan looked out to sea and sky. The subjects of her unfixed charcoal drawings are the varying light – often at dawn or dusk – and the atmosphere defined by rich blacks and soft grays, bold quick marks and soft erasure. In a 2014 Times review Ken Johnson wrote: “(Nelligan’s) are as exquisitely delicate as Mr. Bileck’s but sacrifice detail for a misty realism and sometimes verge on pure abstraction. With velvety blacks describing land and forest masses, and pearlescent whites in skies and reflective waters, they are haunting, at once mournful and ecstatic.”

Installations

Installations Thumbnails
Photograph showing a view of an exhibition space
Photograph showing a corner view of an exhibition space, with eleven framed drawings hanging on white walls
Photograph showing a corner view of an exhibition space, with eleven framed drawings hanging on white walls
Photograph showing a corner view of an exhibition space, with ten framed drawings hanging on white walls
Photograph showing a corner view of an exhibition space, with ten framed drawings hanging on white walls
Photograph showing a view of an exhibition space with seven framed drawings hanging on a white wall
Photograph showing a view of an exhibition space, with six framed drawings hanging on a white wall
Photograph showing a view of an exhibition space, with four framed drawings hanging on a white wall
Photograph showing a detail view of an exhibition, with three framed drawings hanging on a white wall
Photograph showing a view of an exhibition space, with two framed drawings hanging on a white wall above a small table and chair
Photograph showing a view of an exhibition space
Photograph showing a corner view of an exhibition space, with eleven framed drawings hanging on white walls
Photograph showing a corner view of an exhibition space, with eleven framed drawings hanging on white walls
Photograph showing a corner view of an exhibition space, with ten framed drawings hanging on white walls
Photograph showing a corner view of an exhibition space, with ten framed drawings hanging on white walls
Photograph showing a view of an exhibition space with seven framed drawings hanging on a white wall
Photograph showing a view of an exhibition space, with six framed drawings hanging on a white wall
Photograph showing a view of an exhibition space, with four framed drawings hanging on a white wall
Photograph showing a detail view of an exhibition, with three framed drawings hanging on a white wall
Photograph showing a view of an exhibition space, with two framed drawings hanging on a white wall above a small table and chair

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

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Nocturnal charcoal landscape drawing, showing a band of trees and a rising moon overhead

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 1/4 x 10 inches

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Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing, showing a path surrounded by grass with dark trees in the background

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 11 5/8 x 9 1/4 inches

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Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, c. 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 9 7/8 inches

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Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 9 7/8 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 10 inches

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Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing of a nocturnal scene, showing a path surrounded by grass leading into a forest

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 9 7/8 inches

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Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 1/4 x 10 inches

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 1/4 x 10 inches

Inquire
Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 9 7/8 inches

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 9 7/8 inches

Inquire
Charcoal drawing of a radiant full moon in a dark night sky

Emily Nelligan, Untitled (In Memoriam for Gregory), c. 1975, charcoal on paper, 8 3/8 x 11 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled (Maine), c. 1958, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 1/8 x 13 1/4 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/8 inches

Inquire
Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric charcoal drawing of a full moon in the night sky

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 9 3/4 x 13 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 9 x 13 1/4 inches

Inquire
Ink drawing of a flowering plant

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, pen and ink on paper, 7 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches

Inquire
Ink drawing of a group of plants and flowers

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, pen and ink on paper, 7 7/8 x 13 inches

Inquire
Graphite drawing of a group of fallen and dead trees with the sea in the background

Marvin Bileck, Craggy Trunks Along Dead Man's Point, graphite on paper, 8 7/8 x 11 7/8 inches

Inquire
Etching of fallen and dead trees with the sea in the background

Marvin Bileck, Craggy Trunks Along Dead Man's Point, etching and engraving on paper, 7 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches

Inquire
Graphite drawing of a landscape with trees and flowering plants

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pencil on paper, 6 7/8 x 11 inches

Inquire
Ink drawing of a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 5 5/8 x 7 1/2 inches

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Ink drawing of a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 6 1/4 x 9 5/8 inches

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Ink drawing of trees in a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 4 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches

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Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pencil on paper, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pencil on paper, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Inquire
Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 9 x 11 1/4 inches

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 9 x 11 1/4 inches

Inquire
Ink drawing of a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 6 x 10 1/4 inches

Inquire
Ink drawing of a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 4 1/4 x 8 1/2 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric graphite drawing of two trees in a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pencil on paper, 9 3/4 x 12 1/4 inches

Inquire
Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Nocturnal charcoal landscape drawing, showing a band of trees and a rising moon overhead

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 1/4 x 10 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing, showing a path surrounded by grass with dark trees in the background

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 11 5/8 x 9 1/4 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, c. 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 9 7/8 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 9 7/8 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 10 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing of a nocturnal scene, showing a path surrounded by grass leading into a forest

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 9 7/8 inches

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 1/4 x 10 inches

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 1/4 x 10 inches

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 9 7/8 inches

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 13 x 9 7/8 inches

Charcoal drawing of a radiant full moon in a dark night sky

Emily Nelligan, Untitled (In Memoriam for Gregory), c. 1975, charcoal on paper, 8 3/8 x 11 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled (Maine), c. 1958, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 1/8 x 13 1/4 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/8 inches

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Atmospheric charcoal drawing of a full moon in the night sky

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 9 3/4 x 13 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 10 x 13 1/4 inches

Atmospheric charcoal landscape drawing

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, charcoal on paper, 9 x 13 1/4 inches

Ink drawing of a flowering plant

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, pen and ink on paper, 7 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches

Ink drawing of a group of plants and flowers

Emily Nelligan, Untitled, early work before 1975, pen and ink on paper, 7 7/8 x 13 inches

Graphite drawing of a group of fallen and dead trees with the sea in the background

Marvin Bileck, Craggy Trunks Along Dead Man's Point, graphite on paper, 8 7/8 x 11 7/8 inches

Etching of fallen and dead trees with the sea in the background

Marvin Bileck, Craggy Trunks Along Dead Man's Point, etching and engraving on paper, 7 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches

Graphite drawing of a landscape with trees and flowering plants

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pencil on paper, 6 7/8 x 11 inches

Ink drawing of a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 5 5/8 x 7 1/2 inches

Ink drawing of a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 6 1/4 x 9 5/8 inches

Ink drawing of trees in a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 4 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pencil on paper, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pencil on paper, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 9 x 11 1/4 inches

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 9 x 11 1/4 inches

Ink drawing of a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 6 x 10 1/4 inches

Ink drawing of a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pen and ink on paper, 4 1/4 x 8 1/2 inches

Atmospheric graphite drawing of two trees in a landscape

Marvin Bileck, Untitled, pencil on paper, 9 3/4 x 12 1/4 inches