Palm Desert Gallery Besichtigungstour mit Tom Venditti - Saison 2022/2023

VERÖFFENTLICHT IN: Galerie Rundgänge

Begleiten Sie den Direktor von Heather James Fine Art, Tom Venditti, bei der Besichtigung unserer Flaggschiff-Galerie in Palm Desert, Kalifornien. Wir können uns glücklich schätzen, Tom zu haben. Bevor er zu Heather James Fine Art kam, war Tom Venditti 14 Jahre lang als Senior Director of Art für die atemberaubende Paul Allen Collection tätig , die kürzlich bei einer Auktion mehrere neue Rekorde aufstellte und damit die Stärke des Kunstmarktes triumphierend demonstrierte.

Heather James Fine Art ist bestrebt, eine große Auswahl an Kunst von historischer Bedeutung und ästhetischem Reiz anzubieten, und wir können uns niemanden vorstellen, der besser in der Lage ist, Einblicke in einen Claude Monet zu gewähren und gleichzeitig eine fundierte Sichtweise auf ein fabelhaftes neues Werk von Wayne Thiebaud anzubieten. Wir hoffen, dass Ihnen Toms kuratierte Reise durch verschiedene Genres und hochkarätige Künstler gefällt und dass sie Sie zu einem Besuch bei uns in Palm Desert inspirieren wird, um die Sammlung persönlich zu besichtigen.

Wir freuen uns, unsere Winteröffnungszeiten an unserem Standort in Palm Desert, 455188 Portola Avenue, bekannt zu geben: Montag bis Samstag von 9:00 - 5:00 Uhr.

<br>In Diego Rivera’s portrait of Enriqueta Dávila, the artist asserts a Mexicanidad, a quality of Mexican-ness, in the work along with his strong feelings towards the sitter. Moreover, this painting is unique amongst his portraiture in its use of symbolism, giving us a strong if opaque picture of the relationship between artist and sitter.<br><br>Enriqueta, a descendent of the prominent Goldbaum family, was married to the theater entrepreneur, José María Dávila. The two were close friends with Rivera, and the artist initially requested to paint Enriqueta’s portrait. Enriqueta found the request unconventional and relented on the condition that Rivera paints her daughter, Enriqueta “Quetita”. Rivera captures the spirit of the mother through the use of duality in different sections of the painting, from the floorboards to her hands, and even the flowers. Why the split in the horizon of the floorboard? Why the prominent cross while Enriqueta’s family is Jewish? Even her pose is interesting, showcasing a woman in control of her own power, highlighted by her hand on her hip which Rivera referred to as a claw, further complicating our understanding of her stature.<br><br>This use of flowers, along with her “rebozo” or shawl, asserts a Mexican identity. Rivera was adept at including and centering flowers in his works which became a kind of signature device. The flowers show bromeliads and roselles; the former is epiphytic and the latter known as flor de jamaica and often used in hibiscus tea and aguas frescas. There is a tension then between these two flowers, emphasizing the complicated relationship between Enriqueta and Rivera. On the one hand, Rivera demonstrates both his and the sitter’s Mexican identity despite the foreign root of Enriqueta’s family but there may be more pointed meaning revealing Rivera’s feelings to the subject. The flowers, as they often do in still life paintings, may also refer to the fleeting nature of life and beauty. The portrait for her daughter shares some similarities from the use of shawl and flowers, but through simple changes in gestures and type and placement of flowers, Rivera illuminates a stronger personality in Enriqueta and a more dynamic relationship as filtered through his lens.<br><br>A closer examination of even her clothing reveals profound meaning. Instead of a dress more in line for a socialite, Rivera has Enriqueta in a regional dress from Jalisco, emphasizing both of their Mexican identities. On the other hand, her coral jewelry, repeated in the color of her shoes, hints at multiple meanings from foreignness and exoticism to protection and vitality. From Ancient Egypt to Classical Rome to today, coral has been used for jewelry and to have been believed to have properties both real and symbolic. Coral jewelry is seen in Renaissance paintings indicating the vitality and purity of woman or as a protective amulet for infants. It is also used as a reminder, when paired with the infant Jesus, of his future sacrifice. Diego’s use of coral recalls these Renaissance portraits, supported by the plain background of the painting and the ribbon indicating the maker and date similar to Old Master works.<br><br>When combined in the portrait of Enriqueta, we get a layered and tense building of symbolism. Rivera both emphasizes her Mexican identity but also her foreign roots. He symbolizes her beauty and vitality but look closely at half of her face and it is as if Rivera has painted his own features onto hers. The richness of symbolism hints at the complex relationship between artist and sitter.

DIEGO RIVERA

Laut dem vom Brandywine River Museum of Art zusammengestellten Werkverzeichnis wurde die Vorzeichnung für Puritan Cod Fishers von N. C. Wyeth vor seinem Tod im Oktober 1945 fertiggestellt. Der Eintrag enthält eine Abbildung der Skizze sowie die Inschriften des Künstlers und den Titel Puritan Cod Fishers, der im Katalog als "alternativ" bezeichnet wird. In jedem Fall handelt es sich bei der großformatigen Leinwand um ein einzigartiges Werk, das, wie Andrew Wyeth sich später erinnerte, ausschließlich von seiner Hand gemalt wurde, eine abgegrenzte Zusammenarbeit von Entwurf und Komposition des Vaters, die von einem bemerkenswerten Sohn in die Tat umgesetzt wurde. Für Andrew Wyeth muss es eine tief empfundene und emotionale Erfahrung gewesen sein. Angesichts der Detailtreue und Authentizität seines Vaters stellen die Linien des kleinen Segelschiffs eine Schaluppe dar, wie sie im 16. Jahrhundert verwendet wurde. Jahrhundert gebräuchlich war. Andererseits hat Andrew die Farbtöne der unruhigen See wahrscheinlich stärker vertieft, als es sein Vater getan hätte - eine Wahl, die die Gefährlichkeit der Aufgabe angemessen unterstreicht.

Andrew Wyeth & N. C. Wyeth

WILLEM DE KOONING - Frau in einem Ruderboot - Öl auf Papier auf Masonit gelegt - 47 1/2 x 36 1/4 in.

WILLEM DE KOONING

<div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>From the earliest days of painting during the nineteenth century, which was precipitated by the advent of Impressionism, Renoir established a reputation as the finest portrait painter among the emerging landscapists. Works such as Lise with a Parasol (1867) demonstrated his ability to capture the essence of his subjects with a distinctive flair, setting him apart from his peers. Inspired by a transformative trip to Italy in 1882, Renoir shifted his approach, emphasizing modeling and contours with smooth, blended handling, integrating a new found rigor and clarity reminiscent of the old masters. Often referred to as Renoir’s “Ingres period,” he retained the reputation of the painter best suited to manage the traditional process of recording a sitter's likeness with the distinctive flair and vibrancy of an Impressionist. </font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3> </font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>By 1890, Renoir’s style evolved again. He thinned his pigments to achieve a jewel-like translucence, infusing his works with a tender, ethereal quality. This final phase reflects the physical limitations of encroaching rheumatoid arthritis but also a deeper, more reflective approach to his subjects, capturing their inner light and character with subtle, luminous strokes. </font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3> </font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>No longer obliged to rely upon society portrait commissions, by 1900, Renoir began to focus on portraits and studies of family, close friends, and neighbors. “Fillette à l’orange”, painted in 1911, extends our appreciation of his very personal, intimate style and reputation for imbuing his portraits of children with all the affectionate charm he could muster. It avoids the softer, generalized approach that prompted his son Jean’s remark that “we are all Renoir’s children, ”idealized versions of beauty and sensuality expressed in universal rather than with physiognomic specifics. We may never know her identity, but her likeness is vivid because Renoir concentrates on her face and expression. Nevertheless, the interplay of light and color highlights her features and brings to life the tender and affectionate nature characteristic of Renoir’s later portraits. An orange as an accessory is often included in portraiture as a symbol of fertility. Yet, here, it seems to serve as a formal element for the artist to demonstrate his skill at displaying its size, shape, and heft in this young girl's hand.</font></div>

PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR

In den frühen 1870er Jahren malte Winslow Homer häufig Szenen des Landlebens in der Nähe eines kleinen Bauerndorfes, das seit Generationen für seine bemerkenswerten Weizenbestände bekannt ist und zwischen dem Hudson River und den Catskills im Bundesstaat New York liegt. Heute ist Hurley weitaus bekannter als Inspiration für eines von Homers größten Werken, Snap the Whip, das im Sommer 1872 entstand. Unter den vielen anderen Gemälden, die von der Region inspiriert wurden, ist Girl Standing in the Wheatfield reich an Gefühlen, aber nicht übermäßig sentimental. Es steht in direktem Zusammenhang mit einer 1866 in Frankreich gemalten Studie mit dem Titel In the Wheatfields und einem weiteren Gemälde, das er im Jahr darauf nach seiner Rückkehr nach Amerika malte. Aber auf dieses Bild wäre Homer zweifellos am stolzesten gewesen. Es ist ein Porträt, eine Kostümstudie, ein Genrebild in der großen Tradition der europäischen Pastoralmalerei und eine dramatisch beleuchtete, stimmungsvolle Tour de Force, durchdrungen vom schnell schwindenden Licht der Abenddämmerung, aufgelockert durch zarte, blumige Noten und einen Hauch von Weizenähren. Im Jahr 1874 schickte Homer vier Gemälde zur Ausstellung der National Academy of Design. Eines trug den Titel "Mädchen". Könnte es sich nicht um dieses Gemälde handeln?

WINSLOW HOMER

<div>In the mid-1920s, Rufino Tamayo embarked on the crucial development phase as a sophisticated, contemporary colorist. In New York, he encountered the groundbreaking works of Picasso, Braque, and Giorgio de Chirico, along with the enduring impact of Cubism. Exploring painterly and plastic values through subjects sourced from street scenes, popular culture, and the fabric of daily life, his unique approach to color and form began to take shape. It was a pivotal shift toward cosmopolitan aesthetics, setting him apart from the nationalist fervor championed by the politically charged narratives of the Mexican Muralist movement.  By focusing on the vitality of popular culture, he captured the essential Mexican identity that prioritized universal artistic values over explicit social and political commentary. The approach underscored his commitment to redefining Mexican art on the global stage and highlighted his innovative contributions to the modernist dialogue. </div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div>Like Cézanne, Tamayo elevated the still life genre to some of its most beautifully simple expressions. Yet high sophistication underlies the ease with which Tamayo melds vibrant Mexican motifs with the avant-garde influences of the School of Paris. As "Naturaleza Muerta" of 1935 reveals, Tamayo refused to lapse into the mere decoration that often characterizes the contemporary School of Paris art with which his work draws comparisons. Instead, his arrangement of watermelons, bottles, a coffee pot, and sundry items staged within a sobering, earthbound tonality and indeterminant, shallow space recalls Tamayo's early interest in Surrealism. An overlayed square matrix underscores the contrast between the organic subjects of the painting and the abstract, intellectualized structure imposed upon them, deepening the interpretation of the artist's exploration of visual perception and representation. In this way, the grid serves to navigate between the visible world and the underlying structures that inform our understanding of it, inviting viewers to consider the interplay between reality and abstraction, sensation and analysis.</div>

RUFINO TAMAYO TAMAYO

No artist bridged the gap between European Modernism and American Abstract Expressionism the same way Hans Hofmann did. The reason is simple. He was trained in Parisian academies prior to World War I and was friendly with Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and, most significantly, Robert and Sonia Delaunay. Conversely, his endeavors as a teacher and later, as a mature artist in full command of his abilities were stimulated — made possible even — by the exhilarating New York milieu that gave rise to Abstract Expressionism. So perhaps it is not surprising that unlike most of the Abstract Expressionists who pursued a single iconographic look — Rothko’s soft-edged rectangles, Franz Klein’s enlarged calligraphic strokes, Clyfford Still’s dark, ragged shapes — Hofmann was constantly reaching for different and contradictory effects. That meant his paintings were wildly varied and that they carved a wide swath toward the most exciting avenues available to contemporary abstraction. Hofmann proved to be a gallant experimenter, refusing to settle on a single style for long.<br><br>The Climb was painted in 1960 at a time when most American painters were pushing abstraction in new directions. Not surprisingly, as an outlier, it does not evoke Hofmann’s usual “push and pull’ technique. But it is very much a painting of its time, marked by a sensuousness and a deft, painterly touch. It suggests what Irving Sandler characterized as Hofmann’s hedonistic touch, an optimistic celebration of the lyrical abstraction that overcame the burning darkness of painting in the 40s and trumped even the lighter palette of Pollock or Pousette-Dart that emerged later. While the passages of The Climb are brushed rather than poured or stained, it reflects the delicate lyricism of his former student, Helen Frankenthaler who, since 1952 had experimented with floating areas of color, absorbed into the canvas with watercolor-like ease. She, in turn, had inspired a generation of Color Field painters including Morris Louis and Kenneth Noland. On the other hand, these short bands and prismatic slurries recall those halcyon days in Paris when Hofmann worked through color theory with his good friend Robert Delaunay and thought a lot about prisms. Hofmann not only retained elements of Synthetic Cubism, but the lessons he learned from the Fauves and the artists who verily invented abstraction, Wassily Kandinsky, Kasimir Malevich, Frantisek Kupka, and Piet Mondrian to name a few of the key players. The Climb is a glorious expression of a painter drawing from both the past and the present, painting in a playful, but not frivolous manner fully informed and prepared to express his abilities as a painter, simply, and with great conviction.<br><br>As New York City became the avant-garde’s global hub in the 1940s, radical, new approaches to art, such as action painting and abstraction, took root among the informally grouped New York School painters. By 1950, Abstract Expressionism was well underway, but the movement was often overlooked by institutions. When the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced its plan to exhibit a survey of contemporary American painting, many of the New York School painters felt there was a bias against more “progressive” art in the museum’s selection process, prompting them to draft an open letter protesting the show.<br><br>The letter garnered attention, and Life magazine published an article on the protest in January 1951, “The Irascible Group of Advanced Artists Led Fight Against Show.” To accompany the article, Nina Lee photographed 15 of the 18 painters who signed the letter, including Hans Hofmann, Willem de Kooning, Adolph Gottlieb, Ad Reinhardt, Richard Pousette-Dart, William Baziotes, Jackson Pollock, Clyford Still, Robert Motherwell, Barnett Newman, and Mark Rothko. Today, this article is considered a turning point in the prominence of Abstract Expressionism, and the artists involved are often referred to as the “Irascibles.”

HANS HOFMANN

Die Welt von Marc Chagall lässt sich nicht eindämmen oder begrenzen durch die Etiketten, die wir ihr anheften. Es ist eine Welt der Bilder und Bedeutungen, die ihren eigenen, herrlich mystischen Diskurs bilden. Les Mariés sous le baldaquin (Die Braut und der Bräutigam unter dem Baldachin) entstand zu Beginn des 90. Lebensjahres des Künstlers, eines Mannes, der Tragödien und Kämpfe erlebt hatte, der aber nie die Momente der Freude im Leben vergaß. Hier werden uns die träumerischen Freuden einer russischen Dorfhochzeit mit ihren Arrangements aus altgedienten Teilnehmern mit so viel fröhlichem Witz und heiterer Unschuld vor Augen geführt, dass man sich ihrem Charme nicht entziehen kann. Durch die Verwendung einer goldfarbenen Emulsion, die eine Kombination aus Öl und opaker Gouache auf Wasserbasis darstellt, wird die Wärme, das Glück und der Optimismus von Chagalls üblichem Positivismus in einen leuchtenden Glanz gehüllt, der an den Einfluss von religiösen Ikonen mit Blattgold oder an die Malerei der Frührenaissance erinnert, die den Eindruck von göttlichem Licht oder spiritueller Erleuchtung vermitteln wollte. Die Kombination von Öl und Gouache kann eine Herausforderung sein. Aber hier, in Les Mariés sous le baldaquin, setzt Chagall sie ein, um der Szene eine jenseitige Qualität zu verleihen, fast so, als ob sie sich vor seinem geistigen Auge materialisiert hätte. Die zarte Textur erweckt den Eindruck, dass das Licht vom Werk selbst ausgeht, und verleiht den im Himmel schwebenden Figuren eine gespenstische Qualität.

MARC CHAGALL

The frame of reference for Irish American Sean Scully’s signature blocks and stripes is vast. From Malevich’s central premise that geometry can provide the means for universal understanding to Rothko’s impassioned approach to color and rendering of the dramatic sublime, Scully learned how to condense the splendor of the natural world into simple modes of color, light, and composition. Born in Dublin in 1945 and London-raised, Scully was well-schooled in figurative drawing when he decided to catch the spirit of his lodestar, Henri Matisse, by visiting Morocco in 1969. He was captivated by the dazzling tessellated mosaics and richly dyed fabrics and began to paint grids and stipes of color. Subsequent adventures provided further inspiration as the play of intense light on the reflective surfaces of Mayan ruins and the ancient slabs of stone at Stonehenge brought the sensation of light, space, and geometric movement to Scully’s paintings. The ability to trace the impact of Scully’s travels throughout his paintings reaffirms the value of abstract art as a touchstone for real-life experience.<br><br><br>Painted in rich, deep hues and layered, nuanced surfaces, Grey Red is both poetic and full of muscular formalism. Scully appropriately refers to these elemental forms as ‘bricks,’ suggesting the formal calculations of an architect. As he explained, “these relationships that I see in the street doorways, in windows between buildings, and in the traces of structures that were once full of life, I take for my work. I use these colors and forms and put them together in a way that perhaps reminds you of something, though you’re not sure of that” (David Carrier, Sean Scully, 2004, pg. 98). His approach is organic, less formulaic; intuitive painter’s choices are layering one color upon another so that contrasting hues and colors vibrate with subliminal energy. Diebenkorn comes to mind in his pursuit of radiant light. But here, the radiant bands of terracotta red, gray, taupe, and black of Grey Red resonate with deep, smoldering energy and evoke far more affecting passion than you would think it could impart. As his good friend, Bono wrote, “Sean approaches the canvas like a kickboxer, a plasterer, a builder. The quality of painting screams of a life being lived.”

SEAN SCULLY

<div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Hans Hofmann's <em>Baal</em> channels the charged energy of its evocative title, rooted in ancient Semitic tradition. The name refers to a lord or master but also carries associations with primal forces of nature, chaos, and creation. Hofmann's work reflects this duality, blending structured design with the untamed vitality of gestural abstraction to create a composition oscillating between entropy and order.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Painted at age 65, <em>Baal</em> also showcases Hofmann's willingness to revisit earlier disciplines while addressing the challenges of mid-century abstraction. Its vibrant palette and bold use of complementary colors, particularly the juxtaposition of red and green, heightens the painting's dynamism. His muscular brushwork also reflects his lifelong experimentation with the tension between form and freedom; undulating lines and biomorphic forms evoke the surrealist influence of Miró and the spiritual resonance of Kandinsky's gestural abstractions. Like these predecessors, Hofmann sought to translate "inner necessity" into visual expression, guided by his fertile imagination. Yet the planal elements and curvilinear shapes of <em>Baal</em> also reflect the influence of improvisational painting, a hallmark of Abstract Expressionism as practiced by contemporaries like Arshile Gorky, among others. It is a composition that teems with movement and energy, suggesting a cosmos in flux—chaotic yet deliberate.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Exhibited the same year at Betty Parsons Gallery in New York, <em>Baal</em> signals Hofmann's evolution as a master and innovator. With its vivid dynamism and symbolic title, the painting epitomizes Hofmann's ability to infuse abstraction with elemental power, crafting a deeply personal exploration of form and color.</font></div>

HANS HOFMANN

<div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Hans Hofmann's "<em>Astral Image #1"</em> of 1947 captures a pivotal moment in his artistic evolution as he wrestled with the competing forces of linearity and painterly abstraction. Exhibited in the same year at Betty Parsons Gallery in New York—Hofmann's first show with Parsons — the painting represents a phase of intense experimentation in which Cubist-inspired linear elements took center stage. Lines arc and stretch across the canvas, creating a dynamic framework that opens into areas filled with flatly applied alizarin crimson. These contrasting forces give the work a sense of tension and vitality.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>During this period, Hofmann's reliance on linearity provided a departure from the more fluid, painterly dynamism of his earlier works. From 1944 to 1951, this linear impulse permeated his practice, signaling a prolonged exploration of modes of expression in which he grappled with reconciling abstraction and structure. While some viewed this phase as a retreat from the energetic breakthroughs that defined American art's rise to global prominence, others recognized the distinctiveness of these paintings. <em>Astral Image #1</em> challenged the framework of Hofmann's singular vision, blending Cubist discipline with the vibrant, unruly energy that remained a hallmark of his oeuvre.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>The work's flat planes of bright alizarin crimson, contrasted with the angular momentum of the lines, evoke a cosmos of restless energy, hinting at the celestial themes suggested by its title. This painting reflects Hofmann's deliberate explorations during the late 1940s that underscore his unique ability to create works that resist easy categorization, standing apart as deeply personal explorations of form and color.</font></div><br><br><div> </div>

HANS HOFMANN

PIERRE BONNARD - Soleil Couchant - Öl auf Leinwand - 14 1/2 x 22 1/2 Zoll.

PIERRE BONNARD

<div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Camille Claudel's life story reflects an era when societal constraints often dimmed the brilliance of women; their genius was viewed as a threat to the male-dominated world. Most introductions to Claudel are steeped in misleading biographical details related to her as Rodin's assistant, mistress, or lover, associations that diminish her achievements as a first-rate sculptor whose work borrows little from Rodin in style or subject matter. Despite these challenges, Claudel's legacy has endured, celebrated through exhibitions, biographies, and films since her rediscovery in 1982. </font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black><em>“La Vague (The Wave),”</em> a remarkable sculpture of three women frolicking joyfully, embodies Claudel's passion for art and connection to nature. The women, their hair unruly like the sea, are depicted in a moment of freedom and abandon, yet the looming wave hints at the inevitable sorrow to come—a metaphor for Claudel's life, shadowed by fate. This piece, initially shown in plaster and later cast in bronze with an onyx marble wave, draws direct inspiration from Hokusai's <em>“The Great Wave,”</em> reflecting the Parisian fascination with Japanese art at the time. While <em>“La Vague”</em> showcases Claudel's technical mastery and the influence of Japanese aesthetics, it also poignantly symbolizes her acceptance of the overpowering forces of nature and the tragic course her life would ultimately take. This bronze, cast in 1997, is one of only two not held in a museum, further emphasizing the rarity of and reverence for Claudel's work.</font></div>

CAMILLE CLAUDEL

<div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Any analysis of Hans Hofmann’s oeuvre is incomplete without considering his small landscapes, which occupied him between 1940 and 1944. These works capture a pivotal moment in his artistic evolution, transitioning from Matisse-inspired figurative still lifes, portraits, and interiors to the pure abstraction that would later define his career. “Landscape #108” exemplifies this shift. Its compressed composition and severe clustering of intense colors prefigure the artist’s mature works, channeling the same ferocious dynamism that is the hallmark of our appreciation for the artist. The Fauvist palette and electric strokes vibrate with energy, their interplay of light and dark creating a rhythmic tension that feels almost musical. While modest in scale, the painting’s boldness and dynamism hint at the daring risks Hofmann would later embrace in his larger abstractions. Rooted in Fauvism and resonant with Kandinsky’s early work, “Landscape #108” remains a robust testament to Hofmann’s evolving visual language during this transformative period.</font></div>

HANS HOFMANN

$<div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Hans Hofmann explored linearity and color with persistence during the late 1940s, creating a tension between Cubist structure and gestural abstraction. In this painting, <em>Fruit Bowl #1</em>, the linear impulse takes center stage, with dynamic black contours weaving and unspooling across the canvas, limning forms that merely hint at a still-life composition. Hofmann's approach is far from conventional; the traditional fruit bowl is fractured and reimagined into an abstract interplay of geometric and organic shapes. The addition of bright, flatly applied patches and demarcation of green, red, and yellow punctuates the composition, adding an energetic entropy and vitality. Hofmann's raw, alluring, yet slightly uncomfortable palette and gestural freedom elevate the piece beyond its Cubist origins, revealing an artist deeply engaged with the challenges of mid-20th-century abstraction. Hofmann's lines and color fields balance spontaneity with control, oscillating between chaos and structure.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black><em>Fruit Bowl #1</em> reflects Hofmann's ongoing dialogue with earlier European modernists while pushing toward the freer instincts of American Abstract Expressionism. Often criticized as misaligned with the rising dominance of gestural abstraction, paintings from this period in Hofmann's career remain his own—vibrant, exploratory, and unapologetically personal.</font></div>$

HANS HOFMANN

HANS HOFMANN

A major figure in both the Abstract Expressionist and American Figurative Expressionist movements of the 1940s and 1950s, Elaine de Kooning's prolific output defied singular categorization. Her versatile styles explored the spectrum of realism to abstraction, resulting in a career characterized by intense expression and artistic boundary-pushing. A striking example of de Kooning's explosive creativity is Untitled (Totem Pole), an extremely rare sculptural painting by the artist that showcases her command of color. <br><br>She created this piece around 1960, the same period as her well-known bullfight paintings. She left New York in 1957 to begin teaching at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and from there would visit Ciudad Juárez, where she observed the bullfights that inspired her work. An avid traveler, de Kooning drew inspiration from various sources, resulting in a diverse and experimental body of work.

ELAINE DE KOONING

HANS HOFMANN - Ohne Titel - Öl auf Leinwand - 25 x 30 1/4 Zoll.

HANS HOFMANN

<div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Known for his ability to blend traditional Japanese techniques with modern aesthetics, Hiroshi Senju's sublime depictions of bands of cascading veils of paint evoke sensations of tranquility and awe. Senju began exploring waterfall imagery in the early 1990s, pouring translucent pigment onto mulberry paper mounted on board, creating cascading movement. In this work, "<em>Waterfall," </em>he masterfully bonds ribbons of cascading water into two curtain-like ethereal panels. Senju's interest in synesthesia is undeniable. "<em>Waterfall</em>" conjures sound, smell, and feel sensations as much as the rushing water's appearance. In the present work, he placed these dynamic elements in a context that grounds the viewer's sense of place within the natural world. A wedge of blue in the upper left corner contrasts the otherwise monochromatic palette, providing a sky association bounded by a hillside or cliff (for which Senju is known). Additionally, as the cascading water descends, it reaches a destination expanse at the bottom of the picture plane, where the force of the water disperses into a fine mist at the point of contact, serving as a visual anchor. </font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black> </font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Senju's finesse is evident throughout. He uses mulberry paper, a traditional Japanese material known for its delicate texture and strength. The paper's natural fibers absorb pigments in ways that create subtle gradients and fluidity, enhancing the visual effect of the cascading water. He employs traditional Nihonga techniques, such as layering washes to build depth and movement and utilizing varied brush strokes to achieve different effects. Additionally, he incorporates modern methods like the airbrush to apply fine mists of pigment, creating smooth and seamless gradients that mimic the delicate spray and vapor associated with cascading water.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Hiroshi Senju pays homage to the traditional art forms of his heritage while pushing the boundaries of contemporary art. His ability to convey the sublime through simplicity and abstraction makes this artwork a testament to his unique vision and artistic mastery. It stands as a serene reminder of nature's timeless beauty, captured through the ability of a master painter and artist.  </font></div>

HIROSHI SENJU

HANS HOFMANN - Lied der Liebe - Öl auf Leinwand - 36 1/4 x 48 1/4 Zoll.

HANS HOFMANN

HERB ALPERT - Pfeilspitze - Bronze - 201 x 48 x 48 x 48 in.

HERB ALPERT

ANDREW WYETH - Quart and a Half - Aquarell auf Papier - 21 x 29 1/4 Zoll.

ANDREW WYETH WYETH

CAMILLE PISSARRO - Paysage avec batteuse a Montfoucault - Pastell auf Papier auf Karton aufgelegt - 10 3/8 x 14 3/4 in.

CAMILLE PISSARRO

Mel Ramos is best known for his paintings of superheroes and female nudes juxtaposed with pop culture imagery. Many of the subjects in his paintings emerge from iconic brands or cultural touchstones like Chiquita bananas, M&M bags, or Snickers. In these works, visual delight is combined with suggested edible and commercial indulgence.<br><br>Leta and the Hill Myna diverges from some of Ramos’ other nudes. Here Ramos depicts his wife, whom he spoke of as his greatest muse. Like his works depicting superheroes, Leta and the Hill Myna is imbued with mythos and lore. Myna birds are native to South Asia where some are taught to speak, often to recite religious. Furthermore, playing on his wife’s name and the avian theme, Ramos is referencing the famous tale of Leda and the Swan in which Zeus embodies a bird to rape Leda. The story has been reinterpreted throughout history, including by great artists such as Paul Cezanne, Cy Twombly and Fernando Botero. With this depiction, Ramos places himself in that same art historical lineage.

MEL RAMOS

<div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Standing at an impressive 103 inches, this elegantly spare “Sonambient” sculpture by Harry Bertoia allows us to marvel at one of the finest artisans of his generation. This piece, the tallest in the series currently available here at Heather James Fine Art, features a precise arrangement of 36 slender tines in a 6 x 6 grid. This arrangement's uniformity and symmetry are visually captivating and crucial for the sculpture's acoustic properties. The rods, austere and uncapped by finials, have an aged patina with copper undertones, suggesting Bertoia's use of copper or a similar alloy known for its resonant qualities and distinctive coloration. Given the outstanding length of these rods, the attachment method is particularly noteworthy. Bertoia meticulously inserted each rod into individual holes in the base plate using precision drilling and securing techniques such as welding that ensured the rods were firmly anchored and stable, maintaining the structural integrity essential for consistent acoustic performance.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Beyond his uncompromising nature, Bertoia's work draws significant inspiration from natural elements. This sculpture's tall, slender rods evoke images of reeds or tall grasses swaying gently in the wind. This dynamic interaction between the sculpture and its environment mirrors the movement of plants, creating an immersive, naturalistic experience. Yet when activated or moved by air currents, the rods of this monumental work initiate metallic undertones that confirm its materiality without betraying its profound connection to the natural world.</font></div><br><br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Integrating technical precision and natural inspiration depends on exacting construction that ensures durability and acoustic consistency, while its kinetic and auditory nature imbues the piece with a sense of vitality. This fusion invites viewers to engage with the sculpture on multiple sensory levels, appreciating its robust craftsmanship and evocative, naturalistic qualities. Bertoia's ability to blend these elements results in a work that is both a technical marvel and a tribute to the beauty of the natural world.</font></div>

HARRY BERTOIA

This painting has remained in the same private collection since its creation. Along with its companion work, "Untitled" (1991) was on display in the lobby of Chicago's Heller International Building at 500 West Monroe Street from the building's opening in 1992 until its renovation in 2015.<br><br>The November 2018 sale of Schnabel's "Large Rose Painting, (Near Van Gogh's Grave)" for $1.2 million at auction demonstrates a strong demand for the artist's work. This major sale was only the second-highest price paid for a Schnabel at auction: the record was set in November of 2017 when "Ethnic Type #14" sold for $1.4 million. <br><br>A recent museum exhibition, "Julian Schnabel: Symbols of Actual Life" at the Legion of Honor, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, in 2018, featured several of Schnabel's large-scale paintings.

JULIANISCHES SCHNABEL

<div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Executed in mixed media on paper, <em>The Indian</em> from 1944 showcases Hofmann’s ability to offer a powerful interplay between abstraction and figuration. Surrounded by an atmospheric expanse of deep blues and punctuated by vivid accents of red and yellow, the central form suggests the stylized head of a Native American. Shaped not by direct detailing techniques but subtractive reduction, Hofmann shaped the figure by enclosing it with dynamic strokes of the deep blue surround, punctuated by vivid reds and yellows, as if carving the form out of the surrounding space. This approach emphasizes the figure’s presence while allowing it to remain enigmatic, suspended within an atmospheric mélange of bold, gestural marks.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>The tension between the central form and its vibrant background exemplifies Hofmann’s transition during the 1940s from Cubist rigor to more unrestricted, expressionistic techniques. <em>The Indian</em> captures the energy of this pivotal period, with its layered abstraction and symbolic undertones reflecting Hofmann’s ability to unite gestural spontaneity with deliberate compositional balance.</font></div>

HANS HOFMANN

ROLAND PETERSEN - Wartende Figur - Öl auf Leinwand - 68 x 56 Zoll.

ROLAND PETERSEN

JOHN CHAMBERLAIN - ASARABACA - Aluminiumfolie in Industriequalität mit Acryllack und Polyesterharz - 20 x 23 x 22 Zoll.

JOHN CHAMBERLAIN

Max Weber zog 1905 nach Paris, als die Stadt das Epizentrum der künstlerischen Innovation war. Seine frühen Werke zeigen den gleichzeitigen Einfluss der kühnen Farbpalette des Fauvismus und der fragmentierten Darstellung der Realität durch den Kubismus. Weber imitierte diese Stile jedoch nicht einfach, sondern integrierte und interpretierte sie neu, um etwas Eigenes zu schaffen. Webers Bedeutung liegt nicht nur in seinen abstrakten Werken, sondern auch in seiner Rolle als Vermittler von Ideen der Moderne. Weber spielte eine entscheidende Rolle im transatlantischen Dialog, der die Entwicklung der amerikanischen Kunst im 20. Seine Darstellungen von Frauenfiguren stellen eine Synthese aus Abstraktion und Gegenständlichkeit dar, die das Wesen seiner Sujets einfängt und sich von den traditionellen figurativen Werken löst.

MAX WEBER

Roger Brown ist bekannt für seine persönliche und oft fantastische Bildsprache und seine stark stilisierten Gemälde mit Figuren und Objekten, die sein Interesse an alltäglichen Erfahrungen widerspiegeln. Acid Rain erforscht Themen des modernen Lebens und soziale Kommentare, die die Rolle des Künstlers in der Gesellschaft und das Potenzial der Kunst, Veränderungen zu bewirken, widerspiegeln. Auf einer persönlicheren Ebene kann das Thema des sauren Regens zersetzende emotionale oder psychologische Zustände symbolisieren, wie Depression, Angst oder das Gefühl, von Umständen überwältigt zu werden, die sich der eigenen Kontrolle entziehen. So wie der saure Regen ein weitgehend unsichtbares, aber verheerendes Umweltproblem darstellte, motivierte die Krise der aufkommenden HIV/AIDS-Epidemie Brown wahrscheinlich dazu, das Werk zu schaffen, um persönlichen Kummer zu verarbeiten, die unzureichende Reaktion der politischen Führung zu kritisieren und für Mitgefühl, Verständnis und medizinische Forschung einzutreten.

ROGER BROWN

GEORGE RICKEY - Space Churn with Squares - kinetische Skulptur aus rostfreiem Stahl - 35 1/2 x 20 x 13 Zoll.

GEORGE RICKEY

Alexander Calders Rouge Mouille (Wet Red) zeigt einen Hintergrund aus roten Kreisen, von denen sich einige wie Explosionen auflösen und ein Gefühl von energetischer Ausdehnung vermitteln, während andere nach unten laufen, als ob sie die Spuren eines Feuerwerks ziehen. Dieser animierte Hintergrund ist mit zahlreichen undurchsichtigen runden Kugeln geschmückt, die überwiegend schwarz sind, aber von auffälligen blauen, roten und dezent gelben Kugeln durchsetzt sind. Die strategische Platzierung der bunten Kugeln im Kontrast zu den explosiven Rottönen fängt die Ehrfurcht und das Spektakel eines Feuerwerks ein und verwandelt das Gemälde in eine visuelle Metapher für dieses schillernde und feierliche Ereignis. Das Kunstwerk strahlt Spannung und Lebendigkeit aus und fasst die vergängliche Schönheit in einem statischen Medium zusammen.

ALEXANDER KALANDER

© 2023 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

ALEXANDER KALANDER

© 2023 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York<br>Two Crosses by Alexander Calder is a striking work on paper, blending transparent watercolor and gouache, showcasing his signature repertoire of shapes and symbols. At its heart lies a large, black 'X' on a fluid, grayish wash, and nearby, a smaller, opaque black cross overlapping a semi-opaque red ball, and to its left, a roundish transparent wash patch hosts a black crescent shape. Several spheres in black provide accompaniment, and the artist's favored primary colors, and at the lower margin, his charming undulating line. Calder's sparing use of watercolor allows the paper's white to showcase the forms and symbols, creating a dynamic, impactful artwork where simplicity and the interplay of transparent and opaque elements captivate the viewer.

ALEXANDER KALANDER

Andy Warhol ist ein Synonym für die amerikanische Kunst in der zweiten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts und bekannt für seine ikonischen Porträts und Konsumgüter, in denen er Populärkultur und bildende Kunst vermischte und damit neu definierte, was Kunst sein könnte und wie wir Kunst betrachten. Viele von Warhols Werken stellen zwar keine berühmten Persönlichkeiten dar, aber seine Darstellungen von unbelebten Gegenständen erheben seine Subjekte auf eine Ebene der Berühmtheit. Warhol stellte erstmals zu Beginn seiner Karriere Schuhe dar, als er als Modeillustrator arbeitete, und kehrte in den 1980er Jahren zu diesem Thema zurück, um seine Faszination für Konsum und Glamour zu verbinden. In seinem ständigen Bestreben, Hoch- und Niedrigkultur zu vereinen, wählte Warhol ein Thema, das so allgegenwärtig ist wie Schuhe. Das Motiv kann für Armut oder Reichtum, Funktion oder Mode stehen. Warhol glamourisiert den Haufen Schuhe, indem er sie mit einer Patina aus glitzerndem Diamantenstaub überzieht und so die Bedeutung zwischen utilitaristischer Notwendigkeit und stilisiertem Statement-Piece weiter verwischt.

ANDY WARHOL

<div><font face=Aptos size=3 color=black>Michael Corinne West’s story is a significant one. A prolific painter and poet at the forefront of the Abstract Expressionist movement, West is the artist least likely to be acknowledged as standing among the first generation with the core group of male artists. Placed in a confrontational role as one of the few women defying a male-dominated mythology, she shifted to gestural painting in the mid-1940s, often laying the canvases on the floor and working like Jackson Pollock. Her earliest work in black and white predates Franz Kline’s by several years. It included “<em>Black and White” </em>of 1947, which impressed Clement Greenberg, who was never inclined to dish a gratuitous compliment. Despite the changing tides of art and fashion, her devotion to mysticism, inner emotional states, and the subconscious as they relate to Abstract Expressionism continued unfazed and steady.  </font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Aptos size=3 color=black>“<em>The Day After</em>,” painted in 1963, is West’s visceral, abstract response to a pivotal moment in American history — the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The overlapping layers of saturated blood-red tones clashing with forceful strokes of black suggest the rupture in the national consciousness and evoke feelings of disruption and confusion, embodying the artist’s internalized grief. West transformed the event into a deeply personal expression of mourning, capturing the weight of a nation’s sorrow in a form that defies literal representation yet speaks volumes emotionally.  </font></div>

MICHAEL CORINNE WEST

"Wigwam rouge et jaune", ein fesselndes Gouache-Gemälde von Alexander Calder, ist eine lebendige Erkundung von Design und Farbe. Die Komposition wird von einem Gitter aus diagonalen Linien dominiert, die sich in der Nähe ihres Scheitelpunkts kreuzen, und strahlt ein dynamisches Gleichgewicht aus. Calder bringt mit roten und gelben Rautenformen ein Element der Laune ins Spiel, das dem Werk Verspieltheit verleiht und eine festliche Atmosphäre schafft. Rote Kugeln am Scheitelpunkt der rechten Linien erwecken einen skurrilen Eindruck, während kleinere graue Kugeln auf den linken Linien für Kontrast und Gleichgewicht sorgen. Calders meisterhafte Verschmelzung von Einfachheit und lebendigen Designelementen macht Wigwam rouge et jaune zu einem visuellen Vergnügen.

ALEXANDER KALANDER

Als Tochter des minimalistischen Bildhauers Tony Smith ist Kikis Kunst nicht auf ein einziges Medium oder eine einzige Technik beschränkt, und ihre Arbeiten laden oft zu vielfältigen Interpretationen ein. Club verkörpert die Form und die Dimensionen eines menschlichen Beins, des wesentlichen Elements für Bewegung und Stabilität. Smiths Titel lädt den Betrachter dazu ein, sich ein Bein als Waffe vorzustellen und über die Zerbrechlichkeit des menschlichen Zustands, die Machtdynamik der körperlichen Autonomie und das komplexe Wechselspiel zwischen Stärke und Verletzlichkeit nachzudenken. Eine solche Verwandlung eines Körperteils in ein Objekt vermittelt sowohl Schutz als auch Aggression und reflektiert darüber, wie geschlechtsspezifische Körper in unserem sozialen und persönlichen Umfeld navigieren. Club ist ein Beispiel für Smiths Fähigkeit, symbolträchtige Werke zu schaffen, die offen für Interpretationen sind und zum Nachdenken über die menschliche Erfahrung anregen.

KIKI SMITH

<div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Richard Prince's "<em>Untitled</em>" from 2009 is a provocative and multilayered piece that engages with the themes of censorship, appropriation, and the boundaries of art. Prince uses a photographic montage of naked, intertwined bodies—imagery that evokes the explicit nature of an orgy and obscures its tawdry nature with a pattern of pink, egg-shaped acrylic elements covering much of the underlying image. The placement of these shapes is seemingly arbitrary, yet they play a crucial role in how the viewer perceives the piece. This obscuring overlay can be interpreted as a visual metaphor for censorship, alluding to how society imposes restrictions on what is deemed acceptable for public consumption. By covering parts of the bodies, Prince draws attention to the act of censorship itself rather than merely the content being censored. The viewer is left to imagine what lies beneath, heightening the sense of curiosity and the taboo.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Prince's work often critiques mass media and the commercialization of culture, and this piece is no exception. By altering found images, he questions the ownership and authorship of visual culture. The "censorship" elements in this work might also reference the commodification of sex and how the media sanitizes or obscures the raw, human aspects of such imagery to make it more palatable for the public.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>In "<em>Untitled</em>," Prince challenges viewers to confront their perceptions of morality, art, and the power dynamics inherent in censorship. The work serves as a commentary on how images are manipulated and controlled in society, pushing the boundaries of what is considered art and what is considered obscene. Through this layered approach, Prince continues his exploration of the intersections between art, culture, and societal norms.</font></div>

RICHARD PRINCE

"A Dream Within a Dream" ist eine bedeutende Serie von Gemälden und Siebdrucken von Ryan McGinnes, die ihren Namen von einem berühmten Gedicht von Edgar Allan Poe hat. McGinnes erforscht Themen der Wahrnehmung, der Realität und des Unterbewusstseins und verwendet eine Vielzahl von Symbolen und Motiven, darunter geometrische Formen, botanische Elemente und figurative Motive, die er in komplizierten Mustern arrangiert, die sich vor den Augen des Betrachters zu verändern und zu wandeln scheinen. Der Titel suggeriert ein Gefühl der Mehrdeutigkeit und Ungewissheit und spiegelt die schwer fassbare Natur der Realität und die fliehende Qualität der menschlichen Erfahrung wider. Indem er sich mit den Themen Wahrnehmung und Illusion auseinandersetzt, ermutigt McGinnes die Betrachter, ihre Annahmen über die Welt zu hinterfragen und die Möglichkeit in Betracht zu ziehen, dass die Realität möglicherweise fließender und subjektiver ist als sie erscheint.

RYAN MCGINNESS

Deborah Butterfield ist eine amerikanische Bildhauerin, die vor allem für ihre Skulpturen von Pferden aus Holz, Metall und anderen gefundenen Objekten bekannt ist. Das 1981er Stück Ohne Titel (Pferd) besteht aus Sticks und Papier auf Drahtarmatur. Die beeindruckende Größe dieses Stückes erzeugt eine bemerkenswerte Wirkung in Person und stellt ein eindrucksvolles Beispiel für Butterfields gefeiertes Thema dar. Butterfield schuf die Pferde ursprünglich aus Holz und anderen Materialien, die auf ihrem Grundstück in Bozeman, Montana, zu finden waren, und sah die Pferde als metaphorisches Selbstporträt, das die emotionale Resonanz dieser Formen aufgreift.

DEBORAH BUTTERFIELD

"A drawing is simply a line going for a walk."<br>-Paul Klee<br><br>A significant draftsman, Paul Klee's works on paper rival his works on canvas in their technical proficiency and attention to his modern aesthetic. As an early teacher at the Bauhaus school, Klee traveled extensively and inspired a generation of 20th Century Artists. <br><br>Klee transcended a particular style, instead creating his own unique visual vocabulary. In Klee's work, we see a return to basic, geometric forms and a removal of artistic embellishment. "Der Hafen von Plit" was once owned by Alfred H. Barr, Jr., the First Director of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

PAUL KLEE

HARRY BERTOIA - Weidenskulptur - Edelstahl - 61 1/2 x 39 x 39 Zoll.

HARRY BERTOIA

<div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>The monotype holds a distinctive place within Gauguin's oeuvre, offering a window into the artist's innovative process and his quest to reconcile the challenge of unifying painting and drawing. This medium became the foundation of an impressive corpus that evolved from his innovative Brittany woodcuts and, later, as the means to reimagine the boundaries between printmaking, drawing, and painting during his years in Tahiti and the Marquesas. </font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>“<em>Bathers”</em> belongs to Gauguin's 1899–1903 series of "traced monotypes," a technique where the artist drew or pressed on the back of paper placed over an inked or painted surface, resulting in a single reversed impression. This process introduced subtle textures and a sense of immediacy while allowing Gauguin to explore the interplay of positive and negative forms. By late 1902, the artist had begun keying the drawings on the versos of these monotypes to the direction of his paintings, resulting in a deliberate reversal of themes. The reversed orientation of this monotype, for example, is associated with the painting "<em>Famille tahitienne</em>" (W.618, Stephen A. Cohen collection, a.k.a., “<em>A Walk by the Sea</em>”), and it exemplifies this practice, raising intriguing questions about the creation sequence.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>The reversed orientation offers a compelling argument for understanding the monotype as a concurrent experiment rather than a preparatory study. Rather than serving as a preliminary blueprint, the monotype served as a dynamic tool for experimentation, allowing Gauguin to analyze and retest compositional ideas, color harmonies, and spatial relationships in real-time. The act of transferring the image introduced an element of unpredictability—textures softened, colors became more fluid, and linear forms took on painterly qualities. This spontaneity enabled Gauguin to step outside the constraints of oil painting, offering him fresh insights into how elements of the composition could evolve. Through this iterative process, the monotype would have informed adjustments to “<em>Famille tahitienne</em>,” enriching the painting's vibrancy, depth, and compositional balance. The interplay between the two mediums underscores Gauguin's innovative approach, treating the monotype not as a secondary exercise but as an integral part of his artistic vision.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>While the monotype lacks the polished refinement of the painting, its raw immediacy and formal sensitivity reveal Gauguin's fascination with experimentation and spontaneity. Far from being a preparatory study, “<em>Bathers”</em> likely enabled Gauguin to deconstruct and reimagine <em>“Famille tahitienne” </em>as he worked. This creative interplay underscores Gauguin's broader artistic quest during his later years: to distill the essence of life and nature into forms that combine immediacy with timeless resonance.</font></div>

PAUL GAUGUIN

Manuel Neri war eine zentrale Figur in der figurativen Bewegung der Bay Area in den 1960er Jahren. Anstelle abstrakter Formen betonte die Gruppe die Emotionen durch die Kraft der menschlichen Form. Das vorliegende Werk, "Ohne Titel" (1982), erforscht die weibliche Form in Lebensgröße. Neri zog es vor, während seiner 60-jährigen Karriere mit nur einem Modell zu arbeiten, Maria Julia Klimenko. Das Fehlen eines Gesichts in vielen seiner Skulpturen verleiht ihm ein Element des Geheimnisses und der Mehrdeutigkeit. Der Schwerpunkt der Komposition in "Ohne Titel" liegt auf der Struktur und Form der Figur. Manuel Neri ist in zahlreichen Museumssammlungen weltweit vertreten, darunter die Addison Gallery/Phillips Academy, die Anderson Collection der Stanford University, das Art Institute of Chicago, das Cantor Arts Center der Stanford University, das Cincinnati Art Museum, das Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA, das Denver Art Museum, das El Paso Museum of Art, Texas, die Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, die Harvard University Art Museums, das Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.; Honolulu Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York und die National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.

MANUEL NERI

Wenn sich ein Pferd hinlegt, dann deshalb, weil es sich sicher fühlt. Für Deborah Butterfield ist das eine Art zu sagen, dass es in Ordnung ist, sich verletzlich zu machen. "Echo", konstruiert auf eine Art und Weise, die ihre Fähigkeiten bei der Futtersuche und beim Schweißen von Metallteilen respektiert, hält sich nicht an die traditionelle Darstellung eines Pferdes, sondern enthüllt stattdessen etwas von dessen Wesen. Das aus zusammengesetzten Stahlblechen konstruierte Werk, von denen einige geriffelt, andere gefaltet oder gewellt sind, trägt die Spuren der Zeit, ist zu einer rostbraunen Patina gealtert, und die Unvollkommenheiten werden eher zelebriert als kaschiert. Butterfields bewusste Wahl der Materialien und deren Behandlung verleiht dem Werk Tiefe und Charakter und verwandelt Untitled, Echo in mehr als nur eine Pferdedarstellung - es spiegelt die raue Schönheit und die Widerstandsfähigkeit des Tieres wider, das es darstellt.

DEBORAH BUTTERFIELD

Andy Warhol, der für seine Faszination für Ruhm, Berühmtheit und kulturelle Ikonen bekannt ist, ging gelegentlich über seine Zeitgenossen hinaus und bezog historische Persönlichkeiten mit ein. Von besonderem Interesse sind Goethes Farbtheorien, die die Wahrnehmung von Farben und ihre psychologische Wirkung betonen und im Gegensatz zum vorherrschenden, auf der Newtonschen Physik basierenden Verständnis von Farbe als wissenschaftlichem Phänomen stehen. Obwohl es keine direkte Verbindung gibt, dass Goethes Farbtheorie Warhol direkt dazu inspiriert hat, ihn als Sujet auszuwählen, unterstreicht sie thematisch, wie wir Warhols Kunst als Auseinandersetzung mit historischen Traditionen betrachten, um eine Verbindung zwischen ihren jeweiligen Bereichen und Epochen zu symbolisieren. In diesem Sinne ist das Werk eine Hommage und eine zeitübergreifende Zusammenarbeit, die Warhols Bildsprache mit Goethes Bewusstsein für Farbe als starkes, stimulierendes Element der Wahrnehmung verbindet.

ANDY WARHOL

<div><font face=Aptos size=3 color=black>María Blanchard, born in 1881, initially emerged as a committed Cubist painter, heavily influenced by her friendships with Juan Gris and other avant-garde figures. Her work in the 1910s showcased rigorous geometric abstraction, yet by the early 1920s, she began to transition toward a more figurative style. This shift aligned her with the “<em>Retour à l'ordre”</em> movement, in which many artists returned to more classical forms after the upheavals of war and early avant-garde experimentation. Blanchard's increasing focus on emotional depth and human subjects became a defining feature of these later works, culminating in pieces like "<em>Fillette à la pomme</em>."</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Aptos size=3 color=black>Blanchard's Cubist roots, prominent in the angular treatment of the hands and apple, are softened throughout the girl's modest attire, suggesting a spiritual or religious significance. The model's pious countenance and the muted palette of browns, grays, and blues further reinforce that the painting continues a thread of religious themes, as seen in Picasso's early masterwork, "<em>The First Communion</em>," and Blanchard's own "<em>Girl at her First Communion</em>." The apple held in hand introduces layers of symbolism, often representing knowledge, innocence, or temptation, an association that suggests an emotional transition, bridging childhood and deeper awareness.</font></div><br><br><div> </div><br><br><div><font face=Aptos size=3 color=black>Blanchard's ability to fuse Cubist form with symbolic narrative and emotional complexity makes this painting a poignant reflection of her evolution as an artist. She humanizes the rigid forms of Cubism while imbuing her subjects with depth and inner life.</font></div>

MARIA BLANCHARD

The Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) was a prosperous cultural period that helped shape Chinese history's foundations for future centuries. This era was marked by notable technological and cultural advances, including gunpowder and printing. Among artistic advances during this period was the perfection of the sancai glaze technique, which was a prominent attribute of sculpture during this period. Sancai (tri-colored) glazing; the three glaze-colors used were ochre or brown, green and clear. Glazed wares where much more costly to produce than other terracotta wares, and were therefore only reserved for the wealthiest patrons. <br><br>The Sancai-Glazed Earth Spirit offered here depicts a "Zhenmushou." These are mythical hybrid creatures whose bodies are a combination of dogs, lions, boars and other animals. These fierce looking beasts would be found in pairs guarding the entrance of Tang Dynasty tombs.

CHINESISCH

The Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) was a prosperous period that helped shape Chinese history's foundations for future centuries. This era was marked by notable technological and cultural advances, including gunpowder and printing. Among artistic advances during this period was the perfection of the sancai glaze technique, which was a prominent attribute of sculpture during this period. Sancai (tri-colored) glazing used the three glaze-colors were ochre or brown, green and clear. Glazed wares were much more costly to produce than other terracotta wares, and were therefore only reserved for the wealthiest patrons. <br><br>This Sancai-Glazed Horse would have been an incredible status symbol for its owner and many have been lost to time. This sculpture is comparable to examples held in museum collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

CHINESISCH

WALEAD BESHTY - Los Caballos en la Conquista - Ceramica Suro Gussreste, Glasur und Brennplatte - 9 1/2 x 32 1/4 x 21 1/2 Zoll.

WALEAD BESHTY

<div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>In Harry Bertoia's oeuvre, "<em>Willow</em>" stands apart as an extraordinary synthesis of natural inspiration and innovative metalwork. Its cascading strands of stainless-steel capture the weeping elegance of a willow tree's drooping branches while introducing a dynamic, interactive quality through its shimmering surface and subtle responsiveness to movement. The strands—whether referred to as "tinsels," "filaments," or "tendrils"—reflect the delicacy of natural forms, blending artistry with technical mastery.</font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3> </font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Bertoia, a visionary sculptor with an unparalleled ability to transform industrial materials into organic beauty, likely employed meticulous processes to create "<em>Willow,</em>" cutting thin sheets of stainless steel into fine strips and expertly attaching them to a central core, positioning each strand to flow like water or sway like leaves in the breeze. The tactile quality of the strands, which respond to air currents or touch, invites the viewer into a contemplative engagement with the work, much like one might feel beneath the canopy of a willow tree.</font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3> </font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>This piece epitomizes Bertoia's lifelong fascination with nature, stemming from his early years in the rural village of San Lorenzo, Italy. His sensitivity to the organic world continually informed his artistic practice, from his celebrated Sonambient sound sculptures to creations like “<em>Willow</em>, “which reimagine the relationship between form and environment. As he once said, "I no longer hold onto terms like music and sculpture. Those old distinctions have lost all their meaning."</font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3> </font></div><br><br><div><font face=Lato size=3 color=black>Once again , Bertoia captivates us by reaching beyond the traditional boundaries of sculpture, delivering a work that is as much a sensory experience as a visual one. It is a harmonious blend of natural inspiration and innovative artistry, a reminder of the sacred beauty found in the intersection of art and the natural world.</font></div>

HARRY BERTOIA

Geprägt von seiner Heimat Italien und seiner Wahlheimat Amerika, erforschte Joseph Stella eine außergewöhnliche Bandbreite an Stilen und Medien in Kunstwerken von erstaunlicher Vielfalt und Originalität. Im Jahr 1911 ritt Stella auf der Avantgarde-Welle der fauvistischen, kubistischen und futuristischen Strömungen, doch er war der einzige amerikanische Modernist, der täglich mit den italienischen Alten Meistern zusammenlebte. Die Pose und Handhabung von "Reclining Nude" bezieht sich auf eine Reihe von Werken, die Stella in den 1920er Jahren malte und in denen er verführerische Frauen aus mythologischen oder fantastischen Quellen darstellte, wie "Leda und der Schwan" und Ondine, eine schöne Wassernymphe aus einem beliebten romantischen deutschen Märchen des 19. Der Liegende Akt, der in den 1930er Jahren gemalt wurde, spiegelt diese ernüchternde Zeit angemessener wider, da er ohne florale oder symbolistische Bilder dargestellt ist.

JOSEPH STELLA

Manuel Neris frühe Pappmaché-Arbeiten waren bahnbrechend für die bildhauerische Technik, und seine Herangehensweise an die Bemalung seiner Skulpturen spiegelt seine tiefe Auseinandersetzung mit dem Ausdruckspotenzial von Farbe und Form wider. Die Wahl und Platzierung der Farben in Hombre Colorado II erzeugt eine besonders intensive Reaktion, die sein nuanciertes Verständnis der psychologischen und emotionalen Dimension von Farbe widerspiegelt. Das 1958 konzipierte und produzierte Werk Hombre Colorado II spiegelt eine Zeit wider, in der Neri und seine Frau Joan Brown in einem reichen künstlerischen Austausch standen und maßgeblich zur Entwicklung ihres jeweiligen Stils und der figurativen Bewegung der Bay Area beitrugen, in der sie eine wichtige Rolle spielten.

MANUEL NERI

WILLIAM WENDT - Laguna Hills - Öl auf Leinwand - 25 x 30 in.

WILLIAM WENDT

CHARLES ARNOLDI - Sticky Wicket - Acryl, Modellierpaste und Stäbchen auf Sperrholz - 44 1/4 x 91 x 3 in.

CHARLES ARNOLDI

In den späten 1990er Jahren begann Manuel Neri, zahlreiche Gipsskulpturen in Bronze umzuwandeln, wobei er häufig zu früheren Werken zurückkehrte, um neu erdachte Wiedergaben der einzelnen Stücke zu schaffen. Diese Serien, die sich in Form und Oberflächendetails kaum voneinander unterscheiden, erforschen die Auswirkungen unterschiedlicher Farbschemata und Markierungen, die durch Einschneiden, Pinseln, Schaben oder Schichtung von Materialien entstehen. Durch das Experimentieren mit verschiedenen Markierungstechniken konnte Neri das Zusammenspiel von Form, Farbe, Textur und Licht erkunden. Im Zusammenhang mit der Stehenden Figur Nr. 3 beschränkte Neri seine Palette auf ein analoges Farbschema und verdünnte die Farbe, um subtile Abstufungen zu erzeugen, die das glatte, raffinierte Äußere der Skulptur hervorheben.

MANUEL NERI

Jaudon was one of the founders of the Pattern and Decoration movement. With a foundation of feminist theory, Jaudon repositioned what were considered trivial art forms and minor visual images. These forms and symbols were relegated because of their association with the feminine or non-Western. <br><br>At the same time, Palmyra exemplifies the ability of Jaudon to create aesthetically beautiful works. Jaudon interweaves shades of red into ornate arabesques recalling gothic stonework, celtic knots, and Islamic calligraphy. The crispness of the lines against the impasto and the layering of red tones makes it appear that the lines are carved like stone.

VALERIE JAUDON

MARC QUINN - Lovebomb - Fotolaminat auf Aluminium - 108 1/4 x 71 3/4 x 37 3/4 Zoll.

MARC QUINN

RICHARD ANUSZKIEWICZ - Blassrosa - Acryl - 48 1/4 x 48 1/4 Zoll.

RICHARD ANUSZKIEWICZ

Harry Bertoias Willow-Skulptur wirkt wie ein Ausdruck von Anmut und Zartheit; Eigenschaften, die den üblichen Assoziationen widersprechen, die wir mit den intrinsischen Eigenschaften der Legierung haben, aus der sie hergestellt ist. Diese hängende Version - die seltene Version von Willow - scheint eine selbstbewusste Präsenz zu haben; eine, die sich an diesem Kontrast der Eigenschaften erfreut. Und doch lädt sie zu nichts weiter ein als zu existenziellem Vergnügen bei ihrer Betrachtung. Stellen Sie sich Willow als eine kühn artikulierte Version von Calder vor, wenn der letztere Meister eine organischere oder körperlichere Evokation im Sinn hatte. Aufgehängt, beherrscht sie ihren Bereich und respektiert dennoch ihre räumliche Beziehung zu ihrer Umgebung. Licht, Form, Raum - das sind die konzeptionellen Werkzeuge des Bildhauers. Aber wer sonst käme auf die Idee, ein reflektierendes Material zu verwenden, das man eher mit Unflexibilität und Spannkraft assoziiert, um einen Strauß kaskadenförmiger Stränge aus Edelstahl zu schaffen, die im Raum schweben, floramäßig und so anmutig schön?

HARRY BERTOIA

JOANNA POUSETTE-DART - Ohne Titel (Red Desert Study) - Acryl auf Holzplatte - 33 1/2 x 42 x 3/4 Zoll.

JOANNA POUSETTE-DART

SETH KAUFMAN - Lignum Spire - Bronze mit grüner Patina - 103 1/2 x 22 x 17 in.

SETH KAUFMAN

Karl Benjamin und seine Kollegen Lorser Feitelson, Frederick Hammersley und John McLaughlin nehmen in der Geschichte der amerikanischen abstrakten Kunst einen besonderen Platz ein. Sie sind bekannt für ihre präzisen, geometrischen Formen und sauberen, die Flächigkeit betonenden Kanten und gehören zu den kalifornischen Hard-Edge-Malern, die in den späten 1950er Jahren aufkamen. Im Gegensatz zu Ellsworth Kelly beispielsweise spiegeln ihre Werke eine Helligkeit, Klarheit und Farbpalette wider, die eher auf die natürliche und gebaute Umgebung Kaliforniens als auf die eher urbanen und industriellen Einflüsse der Ostküste verweisen. Darüber hinaus war die kalifornische Gruppe im Vergleich zur konkurrierenden Kunstszene an der Ostküste eine relativ kleine und eng verbundene Gemeinschaft von Künstlern mit einem Sinn für Zusammenarbeit und gemeinsame Erkundungen, die zu einer zusammenhängenden Bewegung mit einer eigenen Identität beitrugen.

KARL BENJAMIN

The Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) was a prosperous cultural period that helped shape Chinese history's foundations for future centuries. This era was marked by notable technological and cultural advances, including gunpowder and printing. Among artistic advances during this period was the perfection of the sancai glaze technique, which was a prominent attribute of sculpture during this period. Sancai (tri-colored) glazing; the three glaze-colors used were ochre or brown, green and clear. Glazed wares where much more costly to produce than other terracotta wares, and were therefore only reserved for the wealthiest patrons. <br><br>The Sancai-Glazed Earth Spirit offered here depicts a "Zhenmushou." These are mythical hybrid creatures whose bodies are a combination of dogs, lions, boars and other animals. These fierce looking beasts would be found in pairs guarding the entrance of Tang Dynasty tombs.

CHINESISCH

LÉON AUGUSTIN LHERMITTE - Laveuses, le soir - Pastell auf Papier auf Leinwand - 17 1/2 x 13 3/4 Zoll.

LÉON AUGUSTIN LHERMITTE

FRANCISCO TOLEDO - Ohne Titel - Mischtechnik auf Papier - 8 x 10 1/4 Zoll

FRANCISCO TOLEDO

MEL RAMOS - Tomato Catsup; A.C. Annie; Lola Cola; Tobacco Red - vier farbig gedruckte Offsetlithographien - 30 3/4 x 25 1/4 in. each.

MEL RAMOS

AI WEIWEI - "Fairytale" Stühle - Holz - 49 x 45 x 17 1/2 in.

AI WEIWEIWEI

Provenance: <br>Heather James, CA<br>Private collection, NV (acquired from above May, 2000)

CHINESISCH

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