Andrew Russeth talks to painter Susan Rothenberg about the works in her show at Sperone Westwater, New York, on view through December 20, 2016.

Russeth writes that Rothenberg’s new paintings “are focused and tough—stunning, in a word. One shows a ferocious-looking raven with pale pink feathers against what one might call a classic Rothenberg background—patchy white undergirded by dark blues and blacks. In another, three monkey heads float above a slightly brighter white. These new paintings are a bit smaller than her largest works, and they seem to be even more enigmatic than usual, evincing feelings that range from uneasy love to controlled fury.”