Everybody Loves Rita

Just call Rita Ackermann an artist’s artist. “I’ve never seen such a response to an artist from their peers as I have with her,” says Bonnie Clearwater who organized the Hungarian-born, New York painter’s exhibit on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art (770 NE 125th Street, North Miami).

“Tracy Emin, Christopher Wool and John Currin are all big fans of hers,” says Clearwater, MoCA’s executive director and chief curator who clearly appears to be an unabashed admirer herself. “What they all see in her work is the honesty and depth of emotion.”

Instead of a traditional survey, she adds, “This is a great big painting show.” Simply titled “Rita Ackermann,” the highly anticipated exhibit features over 30 works spanning the artist’s career.

Ackermann has emerged as one of the most notable painters of her generation and has impressed art world observers with her psychologically freighted collages and paintings since first attracting attention in the early 1990’s with her images of young women liberated from the constraints of society.

“Her work has great conviction and strength and truth. There is nothing ironic about it. She has pushed her subject matter fearlessly as she has grown as an artist, and the work is visceral and intelligent,” Clearwater says. "Rita Ackermann" runs through May 6. MOCA is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission costs $5. Call 305-893-6211 or visit mocanomi.org.
Tuesdays, Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays, 12-5 p.m.; Wednesdays, 1-9 p.m. Starts: March 15. Continues through May 6, 2012