Known for his free-for-all type of installations, Barry McGee is consistent in his unpredictability. His newest display at Cheim & Read Gallery consists of hundreds of objects. There are stacks of objects and dozens of paintings on canvas wood and cardboard. There is one prevalent theme throughout the space and that is the use of geometric patterning.

This collection of shaped paintings is a single work of art. Each shape is filled with a tiling of  geometric patterns.

Here is an example of a tiling made up of  yellow Rhombuses and isosceles triangles in two shades of red.

This black and white design features squares set on the diagonal with alternating bands of black and white.

Here is another wall in the gallery, consisting of a collection of framed works on paper. The wall has been sculpted to bulge out at the bottom. In this assortment of drawings there are more of the tilings, but there are also illustrations of geometric figures.

Within the random nature of McGee’s installation the impressive use of mathematical patterning becomes a unifying factor.

Susan Happersett