Augen Gallery

I stopped in Augen Gallery in October 2015, while the Jim Riswold exhibition was up.
While viewing the exhibition my first thought that Riswold was pointing to the ways we can insert controversy into our content. Before you start to gripe with the fact that you are staring at Hitler and Kim Jong-​un you first perceive the craft of these immaculate objects. With sheer precision regarding the execution of the pieces there is a sense of determination that somehow ripples into authenticity. It acts almost like a cover to a very very uncomfortable book. Then you notice how he treats these figures. Sure he focuses on Hitler, but he does so in an almost abusive way. It’s like a bully putting a ‘kick me’ sign onto a poor nerd’s back. Riswold puts his Hitler’s into dresses, piles hats on top of them, and places ridiculous lollipops into their hands. I applaud Riswold’s bizarre protest and imagine his satisfaction comes from a sense of control. In Riswold’s world Vladimir Putin is a subordinate that he can, and does, push around. In Riswold’s world, the complicated mess of politics and history seems to be, digestible.
As evident in reading the image with the header «Tips For Artists Who Don’t Want To Sell,» which says «Generally speaking art with Hitler sells less quickly than art without Hitler,» Riswold is painfully trying to go against the grain. There is a carefree attitude and an intensity in the deliverance that feels totally unencumbered. As if for Riswold the show is like an end of the world party. For a brief moment he allows himself to lift the stigmas and biases against art-​making. The work in this show feels like Riswold’s toys, a pleasure that usually is hidden from sight and acted upon only when out of view from the public. But now I can almost hear Riswold’s say the words, «screw It» as soon as I step into Augen Gallery.

The Augen Gallery has two locations. This one is primarily focused on prints and that’s the focus of this review.
Augen is one of the best places on the West Coast to buy prints from the giants of contemporary art. Prints are always less expensive than originals. They run in editions of 10 to 1500 or more. It’s a way for late career artists to satisfy the huge demand for their famous work, and at a less than astronomical auction house prices. With Augen’s selection of artists, the prices are $ 1000 on up, excepting early print work by some Portland artists. Augen has is active in representing younger Portland artists, particularly at their NW Davis Street location.
A few of the well known artists in their print collection may be found on their Master Prints page
. It’s a print museum and an art history lesson.
The owner is obsessed with prints and collects them himself. What makes Augen unique is that he has cultivated personal relationships with the artists and the print studios that execute the prints over many years. That has allowed him to get a slice of rare print runs when they were first made.
Very knowledgeable owner, fine quality, and often rare prints by museum stage artists.

This is probably my favorite Portland gallery (they have another branch in old town) and I’ve bought stuff here before. Not everything is my taste of course but they have a nice space, big by Portland standards, and a good variety of both local artists and some big names.
The staff is great with a warm greeting then let you alone to browse but are there to answer all your questions.
Come first Thursday when sometimes the top floor is open!

Meh. Staff was friendly and welcoming. A few of the pieces were intriguing, but overall it seemed really dated.
The show we saw here was of Portland printmakers, in case you’re curious.
Weird there was a Chuck Close tucked way in the back. Had to be a print, right? Sort of a strange layout, I must say. And they mumbled something about another location. Perhaps that one is better?

We got to the museum a bit too early so we ducked into the Augen Gallery for a bit. I enjoyed about half the art displayed. We were warmly greeted and left a lone to view the art.
There are a few different rooms in this medium sized gallery. One of the rooms even had some big names like Miro.
Usually I like to leave galleries with the freebie postcards but the ones featured weren’t my favorite pieces. Ah well, it was an enjoyable 15 minutes or so.