1905 Building

John Beech has captured international attention in solo and group exhibitions and has works in public and private collections throughout the United States. This exhibition featured several of his works recently acquired by the Albright-Knox.

Beech converts manufactured goods into formal, aesthetic objects, calling himself “the everyday reductionist.” His recycled materials and minimal aesthetic recall the work of artists such as Robert Rauschenberg and Donald Judd, also represented in the museum’s collection.

According to Beech, “the work occupies the space where painting and sculpture meet,” and it has indeed furthered the accomplishments of mid-20th-century artists, expanding the value of found materials in the 21st century. He not only pays attention to the front surface of an object, but considers the form in its entirety, often with irony and humor.

In conjunction with this exhibition, Beech gave an artist talk at the museum on March 25, 2004.