Artforum Reviews "The Joy of Painting"
Artforum Reviews "The Joy of Painting"
Critic Julian Stern considers Værslev's "various approaches to geometric and gestural abstraction."
Exhibitions
Fredrik Værslev: The Joy of Painting
01.29.2026 – 03.27.2026
Allison Katz, Portrait of Fredrik Værslev, 2025. Courtesy of Allison Katz.
Exhibition Summary
The Joy of Painting is the first institutional exhibition in the U.S. of Norwegian artist Fredrik Værslev. The show brings together eight large-scale paintings, each representing a distinct body of work and conceived as an exercise in geometric abstraction. One giant painting reduces the Japanese flag to color and form, for instance. Another calls to mind a speckled stretch of sunshade. A scrunched-up bit of canvas resembles a parted curtain, and a work from Værslev’s “Terrazzo” series invokes the spirit of Jackson Pollock. Taken as a whole, the paintings on view showcase Værslev’s systematic interrogation of abstract art as well as the many methods through which abstraction can be produced. The rigor of Værslev’s formal language notwithstanding, the exhibition is a heartfelt homage to the pleasures of making one’s mark.
The Neubauer Collegium gratefully acknowledges the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its generous support of this exhibition in partnership with the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in New York City. Additional programming support has been provided by the UChicago Division of the Arts & Humanities through the Wigeland Fund.
Gallery
Exhibition Narrative
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
The Joy of Painting Seeks to Understand What It Means to Be Rational Animals
The Joy of Painting Seeks to Understand What It Means to Be Rational Animals
Jack Rich, an art critic with the Chicago Maroon, reviews the exhibition.
WhiteHot Magazine Reviews "The Joy of Painting"
WhiteHot Magazine Reviews "The Joy of Painting"
Critic Esme Graham investigates the formal critique at play in Værslev's suite of paintings.
How Fredrik Værslev Loosens Up Abstraction at Neubauer Collegium
How Fredrik Værslev Loosens Up Abstraction at Neubauer Collegium
Art historian and critic Lucas Gomez-Doyle reviews the Neubauer Collegium's winter exhibition for Newcity.
Mousse Magazine Features "The Joy of Painting"
Mousse Magazine Features "The Joy of Painting"
Fredrik Værslev: "The Joy of Painting" is spotlighted in Mousse Magazine's Exhibitions section, featuring documentation from the show.
The Joy of Painting Included on Newcity's "Top 5" Exhibitions for January
The Joy of Painting Included on Newcity's "Top 5" Exhibitions for January
Fredrik Værslev's exhibition at the Collegium is listed as a "must see" show in Chicago.
Opening Reception for Fredrik Værslev: The Joy of Painting
Exhibition Opening
Opening Reception for Fredrik Værslev: The Joy of Painting
This exhibition features a survey of the Norwegian painter's experiments with abstraction.
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Artforum Reviews "The Joy of Painting"
Artforum Reviews "The Joy of Painting"
Critic Julian Stern considers Værslev's "various approaches to geometric and gestural abstraction."
The Joy of Painting Seeks to Understand What It Means to Be Rational Animals
The Joy of Painting Seeks to Understand What It Means to Be Rational Animals
Jack Rich, an art critic with the Chicago Maroon, reviews the exhibition.
WhiteHot Magazine Reviews "The Joy of Painting"
WhiteHot Magazine Reviews "The Joy of Painting"
Critic Esme Graham investigates the formal critique at play in Værslev's suite of paintings.
How Fredrik Værslev Loosens Up Abstraction at Neubauer Collegium
How Fredrik Værslev Loosens Up Abstraction at Neubauer Collegium
Art historian and critic Lucas Gomez-Doyle reviews the Neubauer Collegium's winter exhibition for Newcity.
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Mousse Magazine Features "The Joy of Painting"
Mousse Magazine Features "The Joy of Painting"
Fredrik Værslev: "The Joy of Painting" is spotlighted in Mousse Magazine's Exhibitions section, featuring documentation from the show.
The Joy of Painting Included on Newcity's "Top 5" Exhibitions for January
The Joy of Painting Included on Newcity's "Top 5" Exhibitions for January
Fredrik Værslev's exhibition at the Collegium is listed as a "must see" show in Chicago.
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Opening Reception for Fredrik Værslev: The Joy of Painting
Exhibition Opening
Opening Reception for Fredrik Værslev: The Joy of Painting
This exhibition features a survey of the Norwegian painter's experiments with abstraction.
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