Mid-Century Mood and Modern Mastery Are on View in Grenning Gallery’s ‘Summer Group Show’

The Grenning Gallery will present its “Summer Group Show,” featuring works by Anthony Mastromatteo, Steven Levin, Doug Reina and introducing Gene Johnson. The opening reception will be held Friday, August 8, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with the exhibition on view through Sunday, August 24.

While the artists represented vary in technique and subject matter, the exhibition is unified by its retro, mid-century aesthetic, with a focus on symmetry, color, and the expressive potential of form. The show also explores how painting functions as a medium to convey abstract and layered ideas beyond visual technique.

Anthony Mastromatteo’s trompe l’oeil paintings use humor and detail to draw viewers in, often referencing 1950s DC comic imagery as a vehicle for subtle political and philosophical commentary. His work, marked by precise light, shadow, and texture, prompts viewers to question perception and meaning.

Steven Levin’s realist paintings are infused with surreal compositions and psychological nuance. A classically trained painter, Levin uses his mastery of traditional technique to bend reality, as seen in works like “Balcony,” where body language and spatial dynamics hint at deeper emotional narratives. Levin also debuts new pieces from his “Books and Butterflies” series, a metaphorical exploration of the transformative power of language and literature.

Doug Reina’s large-scale works capture East End scenes with flattened forms and bold color contrasts that verge on abstraction. Drawing comparisons to Richard Diebenkorn and Edward Hopper, Reina’s paintings such as “Afternoon in Montauk” combine everyday architecture with dramatic shadows and compositional precision, offering an introspective view of local life.

The exhibition also introduces Gene Johnson, a painter who has exhibited in New York and Mexico for more than four decades. His geometric abstractions explore balance, rhythm, and color with tactile surfaces and horizon lines that reference the mountainous landscapes of Mexico. Though rooted in abstraction, his paintings invite the viewer to interpret them as stylized landscapes, creating tension between the representational and the abstract.

The Grenning Gallery is located at 26 Main Street, Sag Harbor. For more information, visit grenninggallery.com.