WEST LOS ANGELES

An exhibition of new work by Jim Farrington centers on a sequence of paintings titled “Head Looking Up.” The series’ title pretty much sums up the work. Viewed in a tilted back position, the eyes in a human head take on the appearance of menacing slits; the cheeks, chin and forehead become unrecognizable planes, and the nostrils blossom into great gaping holes. Farrington explains that he uses this unconventional perspective because it imbues the head with the quality of landscape and thus forces him to deal with portraiture in a fresh way.

Farrington paints with a loose, brushy mark evocative of Francis Bacon, and his heads have a forlorn quality also reminiscent of Bacon. That he evokes comparisons to that great British artist is proof that Farrington is a promising painter. However, he needs to learn to recognize and weed out his less successful paintings. To include them--as he does here--serves no purpose but to sap the strength of the better painting that might be hanging next to it. This grossly overhung exhibition calls for some serious editing. (Art Space, 10550 Santa Monica Blvd., to Feb. 21.)