John Yau reviews Brandi Twilley: The Living Room at Sargent’s Daughters, New York, on view through August 26, 2016.

Yau writes: “The littered space is claustrophobic, a kind of suburban prison cell devoid of natural light. And yet, no matter how depressing the subject, I could not take my eyes off these paintings. Certain recurring details became focal points: as the fire spreads, you want to find out what happens to the generic paintings of a sailing ship (which is odd and oddly impersonal) and autumn landscape; the pile of orange extension cords; the dozens of covered plastic cups with straws sticking out of them; the toy trucks and stuffed animals; the dropped ceiling and faux period furniture. Everything you see in the painting was made to fall apart and be discarded. None of it seems personal, special, or particular.”