In the 20th century, the works of Gustave Baumann became iconic representations of the American Southwest. He drew upon a wide range of influences, from the German avant-garde to the rich cultural heritage of the Indigenous populations of North America.” This exhibition reveals Baumann in the context of those influences and offers insights into the development of his identity as an artist. […]
Category: Artists
Cutting Corners with Patrick Dougherty
For 30 years Patrick Dougherty’s enchanting Stickwork sculptures have been sprouting up at museums, botanical gardens, and public spaces around the world. Amazing what you can do with 30,000 pounds of willow! Until recently I’d never seen one, but whenever I’ve read about a Dougherty Stickwork I’ve been tantalized. So it was a delight to […]
Art in Context: Seraphs Are Red, Cherubs Are Blue
Surrounded by the highest choir of angels, this portrait of King Charles VII’s favorite mistress was commissioned by the King’s treasurer for his wife’s mortuary altar. […]
Rosa Bonheur: The Most Famous Artist You’ve Never Heard Of …
In the 19th-century, during her lifetime Rosa Bonheur was one of the most famous artists in all of Europe and North America. Required to obtain a cross-dressing permit in order to venture into the world of men — for the sake of her art — she took that world by storm! […]
A Painter’s Process
All the learning about composition, color, brushwork builds in an intuitive way. Sometimes you have to paint over something that you love — a beautiful color, passage, image — in order for the painting to continue to unfold. […]
Isamu Noguchi: Knowing the Ways of Nature
There is perhaps no more serene space in New York City than the Noguchi Museum and Garden in Queens. Profoundly influenced by Brancusi, Isamu Noguchi blended modernism and abstraction with Japanese traditions to create a powerful aesthetic of simplicity. […]
Art in Context: Peter Paul Rubens’ Altarpiece, The Descent From the Cross
It is a testament to Rubens’ extraordinary skill that he could convey such tenderness and devotion without any hint of sentimentality. The Descent from the Cross shows the artist moving away from his exuberant Baroque compositions to a more Classical approach. […]
Art in Context: Peter Paul Rubens’ Altarpiece, The Raising of the Cross
With this sensational painting, Rubens introduced the Baroque into Northern European art. In composition, iconography and size (15’ x 20’) it is resplendent with the artistic ideals of the Counter-Reformation. Imagine the effect this must have had when it was unveiled in 1610! […]
Eye to I: Self Portraits from the National Portrait Gallery
The term “self-conscious” takes on a particular meaning in the era of social media, with millions of off-the-cuff selfies posted every day. The 60 indelible self-portraits in this exhibition show us that to paint or draw ones self-portrait requires self-consciousness of quite a different sort. […]
The Marvels of Vik Muniz
Conceptual artist-photographer Vik Muniz is intent on meaningful engagement. “Art is not something you can make yourself,” he says, “— you need a spectator, a viewer, an audience. It is a collaboration.” Therein lies the marvel of Vik Muniz’ work. […]