Artist: David Ngiam
Exhibition title: Paintings
Curated by: Joe W. Speier
Venue: King’s Leap, New York, US
Date: January 13 – February 6, 2021
Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artist and King’s Leap, New York
King’s Leap presents an exhibition of works spanning the last 15 years by David Ngiam. Born in 1961, Ngiam has been living in Flushing, Queens for the majority of his life, and this exhibition marks his first solo presentation. More than half of the show is made up of his series Train Paintings, realized in 2018.
The series serves as an introduction to Ngiam’s idiosyncratic style and his reimagining of New York City. Curated by gallery artist Joe W. Speier, the exhibition also highlights related bodies of works, selected from over a hundred paintings from 2008 onward.
Asked by Speier what galleries he likes in New York, Ngiam writes, “I have no answer for this question. They are all bad to me because they all rejected my art.”
David Ngiam (b. 1961, New York, NY) is an artist based in Flushing, Queens.
Joe W. Speier (b. 1992, Cincinnati, Ohio) is a Brooklyn-based artist and curator. Recent solo exhibitions include Plague Space (Krasnodar, RU) and King’s Leap (New York, NY). Selected exhibitions include Springsteen Gallery (Baltimore, MD), a two-person with Zoe Barcza at Galerie Schmid (Chicago, IL), Gern en Regalia, (New York, NY), and a two-person with Michelle Uckotter, curated by Macgregor Harp at Chin-Up Bar (Baltimore, MD). Selected curatorial includes American Pickers at Triest (Brooklyn, NY) and the roving fence-based curatorial platform Sinkhole Project, which he has presented internationally, including Pik Deutz (Cologne, Germany), and Interstate Projects (New York, NY).
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Chrysler Building, 2010, oil on canvas in wood frame, 13¾ x 10½ inches, 34.9 x 26.7 cm, 15¾ x 12½ inches (framed), 40 x 31.8 cm (framed)
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Train Painting (Fed Up), 2018, oil on canvas in wood frame, 15½ x 21¾ inches, 39 x 55 cm, 18 x 24 inches (framed), 45.7 x 61 cm (framed
David Ngiam, Train Painting (Lion), 2018, oil on canvas in wood frame, 15½ x 21¼ inches, 39 x 54 cm, 18 x 24 inches (framed)
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Train Painting (Mr. Peanut), 2018, oil on canvas in wood frame, 16 x 21½ inches, 41 x 55 cm, 18 x 24 inches (framed), 45.7 x 61 cm (framed)
David Ngiam, Train Painting (Dinner), 2018, oil on canvas in wood frame, 15½ x 21½ inches, 39 x 55 cm, 18 x 24 inches (framed), 45.7 x 61 cm (framed)
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Train Painting (Sea Horse), 2018, oil on canvas in wood frame, 16 x 21½ inches, 40.6 x 54.6 cm, 18 x 24 inches (framed), 45.7 x 61 cm (framed)
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Train Painting (Whale), 2018, oil on canvas in wood frame, 15¾ x 21¾ in., 40 x 55.2 cm, 18 x 24 inches, 45.7 x 61 cm (framed)
David Ngiam, Train Painting (Dough Boy), 2018, oil on canvas in wood frame, 15¾ x 21¾ inches, 40 x 55 cm, 18 x 24 inches (framed), 45.7 x 61 cm (framed)
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Train Painting (Nude), 2018, oil on canvas in wood frame, 16 x 21¾ inches, 40.6 x 55.2 cm, 18 x 24 inches (framed), 45.7 x 61 cm (framed)
David Ngiam, Train Painting (Burger), 2018, oil on canvas in wood frame, 15¾ x 21½ in., 40 x 54.6 cm, 18 x 24 inches (framed), 45.7 x 61 cm (framed)
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Tuxedo Man with Sun, 2012, oil on canvas, 14 x 11 inches, 35.6 x 27.9 cm
David Ngiam, Tuxedo Men March, 2012, oil on canvas, 11 x 14 inches, 27.9 x 35.6 cm
David Ngiam, Tuxedo Man with Pink Dog, 2012, oil on canvas, 14 x 11 inches, 35.6 x 27.9 cm
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Hollywood Painting (Barbara), 2016, oil on canvas, 15¾ x 20 inches, 40 x 50.8 cm
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Hollywood Painting (Nude), 2016, oil on canvas, 15¾ x 20 inches, 40 x 50.8 cm
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Hollywood Painting (Scarecrow), 2016, oil on canvas, 15¾ x 20 inches, 40 x 50.8 cm
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Purple Interior, 2008, oil on canvas, 9 x 12 inches, 22.9 x 30.5 cm
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Man with Lightbulb and Midtown, 2014, oil on canvas in wood frame 11¼ x 8¾ inches, 28.6 x 22.2 cm, 13¼ x 10½ inches (framed), 33.7 x 26.7 cm (framed)
David Ngiam, Paintings, 2022, exhibition view, King’s Leap, New York
David Ngiam, Man with Lightbulb and Midtown, 2014, oil on canvas in wood frame 11¼ x 8¾ inches, 28.6 x 22.2 cm, 13¼ x 10½ inches (framed), 33.7 x 26.7 cm (framed)
