Leonard Rollin, Belly Chain on a Donut Shaped Universe, 2013, wallpaper, bitforms gallery, New York, NY

If you are looking for an escape from the bitter cold of New York, bitforms gallery might be the place for you to hide out this coming Thursday. It may not be the sandy, sun-dappled beach we have all been dreaming about, but their new exhibit, PostPhotos, will certainly transport visitors to an alternate reality. The spirit of the show is befitting the current climate because it is driven, first and foremost, by the need to react to one’s environment, and the particular environment in question is the virtual one. It purposefully builds off themes first presented in the now-iconic 1970s exhibition Pictures, which explored the concept of visual realism divorced from reality, that is, one that is purely psychological. PostPhotos starts exactly where Pictures left off, zooming in on the technological warp that the 21st-century mind is subject to on a daily basis. By doing this, the show reveals how the contemporary mind regularly inhabits a virtual world that is completely disconnected from the actual world.

The types of works on display make use of video technology, the type of stimuli that we are continuously bombarded with whether we like it or not. The artists included in this exhibition all adopt different approaches to analyzing what reality means in modern society. One artist, Jonathan Monaghan, mixes together a variety of almost nonsensical imagery to create an imaginary floating city. But what may seem nonsensical is in fact necessary to further explain how a self-created reality does not always mirror life. Another artist, Claudia Hart (American, b.1955), offers her own critique of a world steeped in the imaginary by directly addressing the influence of pop culture. She references the Batman series in her video entitled Dark Knight, which shows an animated figure struggling to break free from the hold of the virtual world. This piece illustrates how false realities can potentially trap people. This exhibition will give visitors a chance to step into an environmental warp of their own.

A Young Collectors Exhibition will be on view from December 19 to January 8 at 568 W. 25th Street, New York, NY.

LA2, installation view, LA2: A Young Collectors Exhibition, Leila Heller Gallery, New York, NY

Just a few blocks away, Leila Heller Gallery will be hosting its second Young Collectors Exhibition. What is exceptional about this show is that it is designed specifically with new collectors in mind. Works on display will not exceed the US$5,000 mark. This year, the much-lauded Graffiti artist LA2 (American, b.1966) was chosen as the sole subject of the show. LA2 gained notoriety when he began collaborating with Keith Haring (American, 1958–1990). Haring later advocated for LA2’s talent, dubbing him one of the most compelling and innovative Graffiti artists of his generation. Their connection is evident in their shared style. Works in the exhibit will range from large-scale canvases and guitars to ceramics, and every piece will be decorated with LA2’s distinctive mark. Visitors to the city should take advantage of not needing to stand outside to get a taste of New York’s highly popular Street Art scene.

Browse openings by city to see where art can be found in your town!

Beijing, China

You Li: Pang Huang at Aura Gallery
December 21, 2013–January 20, 2014
798 East Street, no.2 Jiuxianqiao Road,
Chaoyang District, 100015 Beijing, China

Vienna, Austria
Grüße aus Venedig! Unsere KünstlerInnen auf der Biennale di Venezia at Galeria Ernst Hilger
December 20–February 15, 2014
Dorotheergasse 5, 1st Floor, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Stinkfish. Los tres puntos at Galeria Ernst Hilger
December 20–February 15, 2014
Dorotheergasse 5, 1st Floor, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Zurich, Switzerland

Heavy Metal at Galerie Clemens Gunzer
December 21, 2013–January 19, 2014
Titlisstrasse 29, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland

BoteroSutra at Galerie Gmurzynska
December 22, 2013–January 31, 2014
Galerie Gmurzynska Zürich
Paradeplatz 2, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland