Lynda Benglis' New Works in Chelsea Appear to be Appropriated Artworks

Lynda Benglis (b Amer 1941) is known for her groundbreaking works from poured latex sculptures & wax paintings.  She has expanded her oeuvre to include ceramic sculptures, large installations & was recently featured at Storm King with beautiful fountain sculptures in neon pink.  Having gained notoriety for posting nude with a male dildo she has gone on to impress the artworld for her prominent, original works as well as for her bravado.  Nevertheless, the works featured in the Cheim & Read gallery in Chelsea all feel appropriated & dried up.  The front gallery has a large 30' aluminum sculpture "The Fall Caught" ('16) that looks almost identical to the stainless steel figure on Park Ave in the 50's by Tom Friedman ('15.)  The middle galleries have wall sculptures that evoke Frank Stella's free forms & Louise Bourgeois' totem figures.  The aesthetically pleasing color palette includes shades of amber, cerulean & lavender, may sprinkled with glittered.  The papermache material partially covers wire fencing leaving portions of the sculpture open.  These sculptures were similar to works by Shinique Smith using fencing covered in colorful fabrics.  Benglis artworks were all created 2015-16 while living in NM and meant to reflect the arid landscape.  I felt they called to mind aquatic environements.  The torn paper material did evoke the shedding of a snake's skin.  The back gallery contains a circular installation that is construed from all black fragments resembling tattered tire treads.  This installation & some of the colorful wall configurations reminded me of Robert Chamberlain's colorful metalic crash sculptures.  Benglis may have branched out into new mediums & a softer color scheme but there were no fresh ideas.  The works all appeared appropriated from other artists.