The artists cover all types from painters, architect, sculptors, etc. ranging from small town kids like Abdi to seasoned artists who have been on the scene for years, like Nao and Judith. Each artist had to submit a self-portrait, which also tied into the first challenge. After sizing up the competition, they have to work in pairs to create portraits of each other. The trick of a good portrait is to capture their inner spirit, not just their likeness.
But before they get started, Sarah Jessica Parker, Executive Producer, popped in for a visit! I usually associate her with fashion, not art, but apparently she is very involved in art collecting.
While some pairings actually sat down and talked through the project, others took a cursory glance at their partner and their partner’s self-portrait and went straight to work. Miles and Nao took this approach and it proved to work better for one than the other. Already, Nao is the biggest personality on this show. She said herself that she may be “too big for this show” given her previous experience in the art world and her attitude does not lend well to judging or challenges. Miles felt “the only way to get a handle on her was to her make her dead” with death portraiture. While an old subgenre of photography, he put a modern twist on it with his silk screening.
Other notable pairings were Mark and Erik, Amanda and Jamie Lynn, and Abdi and Ryan. Mark produced a great photograph that showed Erik’s fun and aggressive side. Erik however, couldn’t stay at the same level as the more trained artists with a creepy easel of Mark as a clown. Amanda took the portrait assignment to a too abstract level, while Abdi and Ryan produced fantastic realistic paintings. Abdi’s especially captured Ryan’s essence.
After all the portraits are displayed, we meet the permanent panel of judges, which include Jerry Saltz (senior art critic for NY Mag), Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn (art adviser/gallerist), and Bill Powers (co-owner of Half-Gallery).
Abdi, Eric, Amanda, Mark, Miles, and Nao are called out by the judges. They’ve called the best and the worst of the group to explain more about their work. Nao is too cocky for her own good and doesn’t really take in any of the judge’s comments on her work.
The judges put Miles, Abdi, and Mark at the top this week. After deliberating, the judges decide that Miles gets immunity and cannot be eliminated this week.
Nao, Erik, and Amanda are in the bottom and one will be going home already. Ultimately, Amanda’s piece was too abstract to work as a portrait and she’s the first to leave the show.
Tune in next week when Erik explodes and the artists try to shock the audience. Work of Art airs on Bravo every Wednesday at 10 pm EST/PST.
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I originally wrote this for another site, but due to a miscommunication the show was already recapped by someone else. So here's my recap of last night's episode, just so that work wasn't for nothing. I'm not planning on recapping it regularly, but if there's an interest in it I might.
If you watched the show, let me know what you think of the portraits in the comments!
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