Charles Gaines at Hauser & Wirth West Hollywood

The celebrated conceptual artist Charles Gaines returns to his hometown of Los Angeles this February with a groundbreaking exhibition at Hauser & Wirth West Hollywood. Featuring a new sequence of his iconic Numbers and Trees series, this collection represents Gaines’ most elaborate Plexiglas works to date. Based on photographs of baobab trees captured during his 2023 trip to Tanzania, the exhibition includes nine large-scale triptychs and a suite of watercolor diptychs that challenge conventional artistic interpretations.

Charles Gaines, a pioneer of conceptual art, has spent nearly six decades exploring the intricate relationship between perception and meaning. His work transforms natural forms, such as trees, into numbered grids, inviting viewers to bridge the gap between what objects appear to be and the meanings they convey. This latest iteration of Numbers and Trees introduces a new system combining color, numbers, and meticulous geometric layering on Plexiglas panels. For the first time, Gaines incorporates “explosions” within the back panels, where enlarged details of tree crowns create a dynamic visual progression.

The Tanzanian baobabs—often called the “tree of life”—are powerful symbols in this series. While Gaines acknowledges their role as natural witnesses to social and historical epochs, he deconstructs their forms through systematic processes. The result is an intentional ambiguity that encourages viewers to examine layers of meaning tied to colonial history, the slave trade, and personal identity. As Gaines explains, “What you bring to the image, adds to the image.”

In addition to the Plexiglas triptychs, the exhibition includes watercolor diptychs composed of intricately painted cells. These cells overlap to blur and accentuate each tree’s unique shape, further exemplifying Gaines’ ability to catalog subtle differences while probing the boundaries of meaning.

Charles Gaines “Numbers and Trees, The Tanzania Baobabs” opens on February 19 and exhibits through May 24th, 2025 at Hauser & Wirth West Hollywood.

Images: Fredrik Nilsen

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Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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