Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie

Opening on September 20, 2007, David Zwirner is pleased to present an exhibition of new work by artist Chris Ofili, who lives and works in Trinidad. This will be Ofili's debut solo exhibition at David Zwirner and the first to unite his work in painting, sculpture, printmaking, and graphite drawing. A fully illustrated catalogue will be published by Steidl/David Zwirner in conjunction with the exhibition.

Ofili began to garner attention in the mid-1990s with his intricately constructed works, combining bead-like dots of paint, informed in part by cave paintings in Zimbabwe, with collaged images from popular media, and elephant dung. Despite shifts in his material choices, the artist has remained committed to a painting process that relies on deliberate flattening of the picture plane, carefully layered surfaces, and diffuse sources of inspiration. Over the years, both formally and conceptually, Ofili has paid homage and forged dialogue with works by artists ranging from William Hogarth, Philip Guston, Henri Matisse, William Blake, to the Blue Rider group. In this exhibition, Ofili continues, in a variety of media, his active engagement with art history and traditions of representation.

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Published to accompany the exhibition at David Zwirner in New York, Devil's Pie documents Chris Ofili's work in sculpture, painting, printmaking, and graphite drawing, and includes texts by art writer and curator Klaus Kertess and writer Cameron Shaw. The publication derives its title from singer-songwriter D'Angelo's 1998 lyric meditation on temptation and retribution. Published by David Zwirner | Steidl

A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Lover's rock - Guilt, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Lover's rock - Guilt, 2007
Oil and charcoal on linen
110 1/4 x 76 3/4 inches (280 x 194.9 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Confession (red), dated 2006 to 2007.

Chris Ofili

Confession (red), 2006-2007
Oil and charcoal on canvas
31 1/2 x 19 7/8 inches (80 x 50.5 cm)
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
A bronze sculpture by Chris Ofili, titled Annunciation, dated 2006.

Chris Ofili

Annunciation, 2006
Bronze
87 x 39 x 45 inches (221 x 99.1 x 114.3 cm)

“It’s not every day that you get to see a major artist thinking. You do here.”—Holland Cotter and Laurie Simmons in The New York Times

Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
Installation view of the exhibition Chris Ofili: Devil's Pie, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2007.
A sculpture by Chris Ofili, titled The Almighty Shadow, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Almighty Shadow, 2007
Bronze and stainless steel bracket
42 x 45 x 11 inches (106.7 x 114.3 x 27.9 cm)
A bronze sculpture by Chris Ofili, titled Annunciation, dated 2006.

Chris Ofili

Annunciation, 2006
Bronze
87 x 39 x 45 inches (221 x 99.1 x 114.3 cm)
A drawing by Chris Ofili, titled Belmont Guru, dated 2006.

Chris Ofili

Belmont Guru, 2006
Graphite on paper
29.92 x 22.56 inches (76 x 57.3 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Confession (grey rainbow), dated 2006.

Chris Ofili

Confession (grey rainbow), 2006
Oil and charcoal on canvas
23 5/8 x 15 3/4 inches (60 x 40 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Rosary, dated 2006 to 2007.

Chris Ofili

Rosary, 2006-2007
Oil on canvas
27 1/2 x 19 3/4 inches (69.9 x 50.2 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Confession (red), dated 2006 to 2007.

Chris Ofili

Confession (red), 2006-2007
Oil and charcoal on canvas
31 1/2 x 19 7/8 inches (80 x 50.5 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Lazarus (orange hill), dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Lazarus (orange hill), 2007
Oil and charcoal on canvas
36 1/8 x 24 1/8 inches (91.8 x 61.3 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Lazarus (green hill), dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Lazarus (green hill), 2007
Oil on canvas
31 5/8 x 19 3/4 inches (80.3 x 50.2 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Douen's Dance, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Douen's Dance, 2007
Oil on linen
110 5/8 x 76 3/4 inches (281 x 194.9 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Iscariot Blues, dated 2006.

Chris Ofili

Iscariot Blues, 2006
Oil and charcoal on linen
110 5/8 x 76 3/4 inches (281 x 194.9 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Christmas Eve (black palms), dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Christmas Eve (black palms), 2007
Oil and charcoal on linen
62 3/8 x 38 3/8 inches (158.4 x 97.5 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Lazarus (dream), dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Lazarus (dream), 2007
Oil on linen
109.65 x 78.74 inches (278.5 x 200 cm)
A bronze sculpture by Chris Ofili, titled Mary Magdalene (Infinity), dated 2006.

Chris Ofili

Mary Magdalene (Infinity), 2006
Bronze
43 x 29 x 27 inches (109.2 x 73.7 x 68.6 cm)
A drawing by Chris Ofili, titled Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frank, and Gideon (7 brides for 7 bros), dated 2004 to 2006.

Chris Ofili

Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frank, and Gideon (7 brides for 7 bros), 2004-2006
Graphite on paper
37 7/8 x 30 1/16 inches (96.2 x 76.4 cm)
A drawing by Chris Ofili, titled Benjamin (7 brides for 7 bros), dated 2004 to 2006.

Chris Ofili

Benjamin (7 brides for 7 bros), 2004-2006
Graphite on paper
37 7/8 x 30 1/16 inches (96.2 x 76.4 cm)
A drawing by Chris Ofili, titled Caleb (7 brides for 7 bros)‚Äã, dated 2004 to 2006.

Chris Ofili

Caleb (7 brides for 7 bros), 2004-2006
Graphite on paper
37 7/8 x 30 1/1 inches (96.2 x 76.4 cm)
A drawing by Chris Ofili, titled Daniel (7 brides for 7 bros)‚Äã, dated 2004 to 2006.

Chris Ofili

Daniel (7 brides for 7 bros), 2004-2006
Graphite on paper
37 7/8 x 30 1/16 inches (96.2 x 76.4 cm)
A drawing by Chris Ofili, titled Ephraim (7 brides for 7 bros), dated 2004 to 2006.

Chris Ofili

Ephraim (7 brides for 7 bros), 2004-2006
Graphite on paper
37 7/8 x 30 1/16 inches (96.2 x 76.4 cm)
A drawing by Chris Ofili, titled Frank (7 brides for 7 bros)‚Äã, dated 2004 to 2006.

Chris Ofili

Frank (7 brides for 7 bros), 2004-2006
Graphite on paper
37 7/8 x 30 1/16 inches (96.2 x 76.4 cm)
A drawing by Chris Ofili, titled Gideon (7 brides for 7 bros), dated 2004 to 2006.

Chris Ofili

Gideon (7 brides for 7 bros), 2004-2006
Graphite on paper
30 x 22 1/2 inches (76.2 x 57.2 cm)
A bronze sculpture by Chris Ofili, titled Annunciation, dated 2006.

Chris Ofili

Annunciation, 2006
Bronze
79 x 84 x 47 inches (200.7 x 213.4 x 119.4 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Confession (Lady Chancellor), dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Confession (Lady Chancellor), 2007
Oil on linen
110 5/8 x 76 7/8 inches (281 x 195.3 cm)
A drawing by Chris Ofili, titled Black Milky Way, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Black Milky Way, 2007
Graphite on paper
40.19 x 26.38 inches (102.08 x 67 cm)
A drawing by Chris Ofili, titled Black Milky Way, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Black Milky Way, 2007
Graphite on paper
40.19 x 26.38 inches (102.08 x 67 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Christmas Eve (Palms), dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Christmas Eve (Palms), 2007
Oil, pastel, charcoal, aluminum foil, and paper collage on linen
110 5/8 x 76 7/8 inches (281 x 195.3 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled The Raising of Lazarus, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Raising of Lazarus, 2007
Oil and charcoal on linen
109 3/4 x 78 7/8 inches (278.8 x 200.3 cm)
A sculpture by Chris Ofili, titled Saint Sebastian, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Saint Sebastian, 2007
Bronze, stainless steel, and iron
51 x 41 x 31 inches (129.5 x 104.1 x 78.7 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Silver Lazarus, dated 2005 to 2006.

Chris Ofili

Silver Lazarus, 2005-2006
Oil on linen
83 5/8 x 62 1/4 inches (212.4 x 158.1 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Christmas Eve (flight), dated 2005 to 2007.

Chris Ofili

Christmas Eve (flight), 2005-2007
Oil on canvas
109.65 x 78.74 inches (278.5 x 200 cm)
A painting by Chris Ofili, titled Lover's rock - Guilt, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

Lover's rock - Guilt, 2007
Oil and charcoal on linen
110 1/4 x 76 3/4 inches (280 x 194.9 cm)
A portfolio of 11 intaglio prints by Chris Ofili, titled The Agony in the Garden, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Agony in the Garden, 2007
Portfolio of 11 intaglio prints with spit bite aquatint, one color, on Somerset paper
20.87 x 16.93 inches (53 x 43 cm)
A portfolio of 11 intaglio prints by Chris Ofili, titled The Agony in the Garden, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Agony in the Garden, 2007
Portfolio of 11 intaglio prints with spit bite aquatint, one color, on Somerset paper
20.87 x 16.93 inches (53 x 43 cm)
A portfolio of 11 intaglio prints by Chris Ofili, titled The Agony in the Garden, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Agony in the Garden, 2007
Portfolio of 11 intaglio prints with spit bite aquatint, one color, on Somerset paper
20.87 x 16.93 inches (53 x 43 cm)
A portfolio of 11 intaglio prints by Chris Ofili, titled The Agony in the Garden, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Agony in the Garden, 2007
Portfolio of 11 intaglio prints with spit bite aquatint, one color, on Somerset paper
20.87 x 16.93 inches (53 x 43 cm)
A portfolio of 11 intaglio prints by Chris Ofili, titled The Agony in the Garden, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Agony in the Garden, 2007
Portfolio of 11 intaglio prints with spit bite aquatint, one color, on Somerset paper
20.87 x 16.93 inches (53 x 43 cm)
A portfolio of 11 intaglio prints by Chris Ofili, titled The Agony in the Garden, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Agony in the Garden, 2007
Portfolio of 11 intaglio prints with spit bite aquatint, one color, on Somerset paper
20.87 x 16.93 inches (53 x 43 cm)
A portfolio of 11 intaglio prints by Chris Ofili, titled The Agony in the Garden, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Agony in the Garden, 2007
Portfolio of 11 intaglio prints with spit bite aquatint, one color, on Somerset paper
20.87 x 16.93 inches (53 x 43 cm)
A portfolio of 11 intaglio prints by Chris Ofili, titled The Agony in the Garden, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Agony in the Garden, 2007
Portfolio of 11 intaglio prints with spit bite aquatint, one color, on Somerset paper
20.87 x 16.93 inches (53 x 43 cm)
A portfolio of 11 intaglio prints by Chris Ofili, titled The Agony in the Garden, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Agony in the Garden, 2007
Portfolio of 11 intaglio prints with spit bite aquatint, one color, on Somerset paper
20.87 x 16.93 inches (53 x 43 cm)
A portfolio of 11 intaglio prints by Chris Ofili, titled The Agony in the Garden, dated 2007.

Chris Ofili

The Agony in the Garden, 2007
Portfolio of 11 intaglio prints with spit bite aquatint, one color, on Somerset paper
20.87 x 16.93 inches (53 x 43 cm )
A bronze sculpture by Chris Ofili, titled Genuflect, dated 2006.

Chris Ofili

Genuflect, 2006
Bronze
23 x 15 x 10 inches (58.4 x 38.1 x 25.4 cm)

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