Bernard Frize’s latest exhibition, "Les 26," at Perrotin Paris marks his 21st show with the gallery and a continued exploration of his rigorous, process-driven abstraction. The exhibition features his signature interlocking grids and geometric latticework, created using wet-on-wet brushstrokes locked in resin, alongside tempera paintings on glass that follow strict linear rules. By utilizing utilitarian titles and avoiding representational forms, Frize seeks to decenter his own subjectivity, allowing the physical act of painting and the resulting optical tension to lead the viewer’s experience.
This exhibition is significant as it highlights the enduring relevance of Frize’s systematic approach to painting, which he has refined since the late 1970s. By operating within self-imposed constraints, Frize demonstrates how rigid technical parameters can actually produce unexpected variations in texture, viscosity, and color. The show reinforces Perrotin’s long-standing relationship with the artist and underscores Frize’s position as a master of contemporary nonrepresentational art who successfully balances rational order with visual chaos.