MY LOVE at 89 Greene
Mieko Meguro

April 4 - May 17, 2024

Opening Reception:
April 4, 2024
6:00-8:00pm

89 Greene at signs and symbols* is delighted to host Mieko Meguro's solo presentation in New York: MY LOVE, curated by Dr. Kathy Battista. Continuing the series of small yet impactful shows, this exhibition in the gallery’s project space consists of a handful of paintings and a group of hand-made pillows.

Meguro is an artist who lives and works in downtown New York. Her work is known for its playful approach to everyday subjects. She has created illustrated books on topics as diverse as condiments and cheese. In recent years, she has made beautifully drawn artist books focused on Dan Graham, who was Meguro’s husband. D for Dan and Dan Eats are humorous and loving portrayals of the artist doing ordinary, banal things, from brushing his teeth to eating noodles.

Meguro’s presentation at 89 Greene is part of a large body of work dedicated to her late husband. The paintings show the private and gentler side of this world-renowned artist: Dan Having a Cappuccino shows the artist bundled in a winter coat and hat, sitting at a café table. In Dan Surrenders to His Podiatrist, the viewer sees the artist from the point of view of his feet, with foreshortening akin to a Renaissance deposition painting. Dan and I as Couch Potatoes shows the artist in a tank top, sitting on a sofa with Meguro’s legs across his lap, her toes sticking out from a purple blanket. Each of these paintings is created from a tender, intimate point of view, revealing Meguro’s dedication and love for her late partner. Seen in retrospect, they are also a poignant portrayal of the longing and grief for a lost loved one. Many of these scenes were captured during the COVID lockdown; while they are lighthearted, they also reveal a sense of mourning for a world forever changed.

In addition to Meguro’s paintings, she will show a group of hand-crafted pillows. These soft furnishings are created in the same style as her paintings, with a simple and minimal approach to her subject matter. Dedicated again to her late husband, these depict Graham and are lovingly hand-stitched by Meguro. Like her book practice, the pillows embody the economical and democratic approach to Meguro’s work.

*Please note that all 89 Greene exhibitions are on view at the gallery’s location at 249 East Houston Street; the name of the project is only in reference to Jack Smith's historic address.

mieko meguro (b. Hokkaido, Japan) is a Japanese artist who lives and works in New York. She works in various mediums as well as making illustrated books. Her works combine vulnerability and humor with her unique view of transnational identities and cross-cultural histories. She is the long-time partner of Dan Graham and CEO of the Dan Graham Mieko Graham Foundation. In addition, she is the founder and owner of 3A gallery on the Lower East Side of New York City. Her solo exhibition Love Letter Blank is currently on view at Una Certa Falta de Coerência in Porto, Portugal.