GLITTER AND DOOM: GERMAN PORTRAITS FROM THE 1920S
Metropolitan Museum of Art

For such a ferocious exhibition, the Metropolitan Museum’s dazzlingly decadent “Glitter and Doom: German Portraits from the 1920s” gets off to an understated start. A dimmed antechamber presents a series of preliminary sketches for various works, including the cartoon for Otto Dix’s monumental triptych “Metropolis” (1927–28). The cartoon has a gloomy, other worldly, necrophiliac relationship to its final, painted image. It signifies that we are entering a city of ghosts.

— David Cohen (November 16)

Until February 19 (1000 Fifth Ave. at 82nd Street, 212-879-5500).

ELLSWORTH KELLY
Matthew Marks Gallery

It’s hard to believe, but during the course of his long and distinguished career, Ellsworth Kelly has never had an exhibition devoted to his black-andwhite paintings. Now Matthew Marks Gallery has made amends with an intriguing installation on 22nd Street of seven such paintings, all produced this year. These canvases may lack Mr. Kelly’s exuberant hues, but in other ways they’re just as colorful as his more familiar paintings.

— John Goodrich (December 14)

Until January 27 (523 W. 24th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-243-0200).

LAURA OWENS
Gavin Brown’s Enterprise

Laura Owens has the distinction of hitting her stride while already influential on a generation of painters. Throughout this relatively short but meteoric career, she has nearly spanned the breadth the medium affords, from formal aridity to narrative exuberance. Her love of painting seems nothing if not ecumenical. The new series of untitled paintings on view at Gavin Brown manage to keep a concise pace even while sweeping across her protean range.

— João Ribas (December 14)

Until January 13 (620 Greenwich St. at Leroy Street, 212-627-5258).

JAMES “ATHENIAN” STUART, 1713–1788: THE REDISCOVERY OF ANTIQUITY
Bard Graduate Center

In the middle of the 18th century, when European artists were just beginning to get interested in Hellenic art, James “Athenian” Stuart had beaten them to the punch. The English designer, architect, and self-proclaimed “learned and curious person” had already traveled extensively throughout Greece, with artist Nicholas Revett, between 1751 and 1753. But unlike other historical persons who achieved landmark firsts, Stuart has remained relatively unknown. Perhaps this exhibition will spark the rediscovery of James Stuart.

— Brice Brown (November 30)

Until February 11 (18 W. 86th St. at Central Park West, 212-501-3000).