A show of ceramic sculptures seen last month on the Lower East side

On view at Van Doren Waxter through April 28

Alan Shield’s Maze is on view at Greenberg Van Doren through December 21

We still have much to learn about California’s cool recasting of New York’s cold Minimalism, but these shows provide a good place to start.

Ellen Berkenbilt at Anton Kern, Katy Grannan at Greenberg Van Doren Gallery and at Salon 94 Freemans, Jane Freilicher at Tibor de Nagy, William Kentridge at Marian Goodman and Chris Martin at Michell-Innes & Nash

There is a pervasive ambivalence in Katy Grannan’s portraits: the gaze that returns the viewer’s is a mix of coyness and exhibitionism. The images themselves oscillate between similar extremes, building a visceral sense of the present through precision while succumbing to a remoteness that results from theatricality.

Greenberg Van Doren Gallery 730 Fifth Avenue at 57th Street New York City 212 445 0444 November 17, 2006 – January 12, 2007 Benjamin Edwards’s architectural landscapes are at once painterly and constructed, present and absent of human activity. The painter’s third exhibition at Greenberg Van Doren Gallery is titled “We.” This title, though seemingly … Continued

“James Hyde” at Brent Sikkema until February 5 (530 W 22 Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, 212-929-2262). “Suzanne Caporael” at Greenberg Van Doren Gallery until February 12 (730 Fifth Ave at 57th Street, 212-445-0444). “Graham Parks” at Feigen Contemporary until February 19 (535 W 20th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, 212-929-0500). It seems … Continued

“Anthony Caro: Sculpture” at Artemis Greenberg Van Doren Gallery, through December 27, (730 Fifth Avenue at 57th Street, 212 445 0444) “Michael Steiner: Sculpture” at Salander-O’Reilly Galleries through January 3 (20 East 79 Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues, 212 879 6606) “Morris Louis” at Paul Kasmin Gallery, through December 31 (293 Tenth Avenue at … Continued