Objects of "Desire" Go On View at Yancey Richardson Gallery

"Desire" may be an inspired theme for a late summer show, given the skin, sun, and sweat involved. But the all-female group of artists on view in the exhibition atYancey Richardson Gallery take a markedly different inspiration as the jumping-off point for the show: the cover image of Bob Dylan's 1976 album Desire. Ruth Bernal photographed a hatted, flamboyantly dressed Dylan in the forest, mid-smile, looking off just past the frame.

It's a curious take on the word that the artists in this show explore with equal nuance. Through videos, installations, and paintings, the seemingly sensual word gets a full treatment, from the awkwardness of crushes in Mariah Robertson's photogram to Marilyn Minter's cheeky photograph of her signature giant lips, which more overtly challenge. A Tracey Emin and Louise Bourgeois collaboration also produces a striking watercolor.

Up through August 23, the show, curated by Jodie Vicenta Jacobson, includes work by Mickalene Thomas, Moyra Davey, and Yoko Ono, the last of whom contributes a fittingly elusive piece. Titled Touch Me, the primed wet canvas has been split open, inviting us to ironically, or perhaps suggestively, heed the command.