Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2024 i American Art Collector

Welcome to the March issue of American Art Collector! We are seeing a wave of contemporary realists being invited to exhibit their work at top museums across the country. Throughout 2024 we will be covering these museum shows for our readers, as more and more museums beging to devote gallery space to living artists working today. The best part about these museum exhibitions is that the artists often have a gallery that represents them and their work, which means you can purchase their art for your home after viewing it in a museum setting. There is something to be said about collecting work by museum-endorsed artists. We celebrate these artists and preview their shows—at galleries, art events and museums, alike. This month’s museum preview spotlight is Angela Fraleigh: Threaded with…

February 29-April 3 Lorraine Shemesh - On Balance Gerald Peters Gallery New York, NY • (212) 628-9760 www.gpgallery.com March 1-22 David Leffel and Sherrie McGraw: Mystery and Light InSight Gallery Fredericksburg, TX • (830) 997-9920 www.insightgallery.com March 1-30 38th Annual All Florida Exhibition Alliance for the Arts Fort Myers, FL • (239) 939-2787 www.artinlee.com March 1-31 Matthew Cornell and Robert W. Stark III: Solitude and Perspective Robert Lange Studios Charleston, SC • (843) 805-8052 www.robertlangestudios.com March 1-31 Feminism 33PA/Virtual Chicago, IL • (708) 837-4534  www.artsy.net/show/33-contemporaryfeminism-2024 March 1-April 1 Spring Dream Hecho A Mano Santa Fe, NM • (505) 916-1341 March 1-April 4 Jose Antonio: A Journey of Artistic Reverie RJD Gallery Romeo, MI • (586) 281-3613 www.rjdgallery.com March 2-April 14 American Artists Professional League: Realism on the Hudson Howland Cultural Center…

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Jamie Adams’ paintings are full of the sensual and androgynous sexuality of the gorgeous movie actress Jean Seberg, bohemian and star of the new wave of French film-making of the 1960s. Seberg’s first film experience was as the lead in an adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s play about the life of Joan of Arc, who led the French in war against the English. The press loathed the film, and Seberg said the pain she endured from critical reviews caused her more suffering than being burned at the stake. Nevertheless, the Catholic martyr’s cropped pixie haircut had framed her beautiful high-boned face in the matte of fame, and the contrast between her natural and erotic sensuality, and the religious austerity of the role, established her as representative of a new kind…

Imagine the dancing flowers in Alice in Wonderland—the larkspur, rose, daisy, violet and tiger-lily. They’re bright, jovial and feel utterly alive. Of course flowers are alive, but we as humans have enjoyed anthropomorphizing both organic and inorganic things for centuries, from the animal characters of fables to naming our cars and giving them personalities. While flowers may not be able to speak or make gestures, no one can doubt their sheer individuality. Each unique petal on each specific flower culminates in a series of intricacies that create its unique bloom pattern. There are more than 400,000 different types of flowering plant species across the world, and just like humans, no single flower is entirely the same. “[It’s] a wonderful challenge to try to capture the unique qualities of every individual…

Childhood is adventure. It’s skinned knees, summers spent in swimsuits, unsupervised exploration in nature, running down to the beach with a barking dog at your side. Childhood is untethered joy and discovery, and it smiles back at you in the newest work of Jose Antonio Bernad. The Spanish painter will be showing his newest pieces beginning March 1 at RJD Gallery in Romeo, Michigan. The solo exhibition, titled A Journey of Artistic Reverie, will have paintings that show the adventurous lives of children as they explore the world around them. The places these figures inhabit are beautiful and full of mystery, and yet there are also elements of mild danger. A boy’s dog hunches down to investigate an unseen presence, a young girl watches a car emerge from the mist,…

Inspired by his time in the Southwest and his many travels, painter Sean Diediker presents a new body of work to be exhibited at Blue Rain Gallery during the first half of March. Through roughly a dozen colorful portraits, still life and landscape paintings, “Diediker maintains a solid sense of form and compositional structure…,” says gallery manager Shella Huggett. “His art is characterized by sweeping brush strokes, bold colors and a contemporary approach to classical iconography.” Diediker would like to believe that his work lives in that space between naturalism and impressionism. “However, in my most recent series I leaned more towards impressionism, which better suited the concept,” he says. “The overall objective was to convey those solitary and often sacred moments we all have—moments that evoke reflection and truly…

Ben Steele’s paintings have an undeniably Pop Art feel, both in style and subject matter. The Utah-based artist creates crisp paintings with bold, hard edges depicting ubiquitous subjects like Heinz ketchup, Campbell’s soup cans (shout out to Warhol), Crayola crayons and bottles of well-known liquor brands. Except Steele takes the pop culture refer-ences a step further—the ketchup bottle becomes “Kingz” ketchup and features Elvis on the label, and the text on those liquor bottle brands read “The Who” or “Pink Floyd.” “Describing my style is happily one of the hardest questions I get,” says Steele. “The elevator pitch would probably be that I’m a Pop Art realist.” The artist explains that he was classically trained through his college degree as well as an internship in Helper, Utah, under masterful still…

In celebration of International Women’s Month, Gallery 33PA, an offshoot of 33 Contemporary with locations in Chicago and Miami, has chosen “feminism” as the theme of its March online exhibition hosted by Artsy.net. On view for the entirety of March, the exhibition features 20-plus female artists from the international arts collective PoetsArtists who wield their power with a brush. “This is a yearly group show we have dedicated to International Women’s Day,” says curator Didi Menendez. “We try to highlight works from our community which deal with identity on what feminism represents today.” For talented figurative artist Amy Gibson, “feminism means equality of rights, pay and opportunities, while dismantling the barriers that restrict our ability to make decisions about our own bodies.” Her show piece In Retrospect features a woman…

In an exhibition of new work, Angela Fraleigh continues to address issues of gender and power, reaching deep into the past, myth and folklore to challenge and transform the confining—and often vilifying—narratives about women, both broadly in life and in the context of the art-historical canon. “I am a research-based painter,” explains Fraleigh. “My work examines the relationship between stories and beliefs, dominant narratives and cultural power dynamics, mythologized heroes and contemporary values. I’m interested in how historical narratives, and the images that accompany them, express and influence beliefs about contemporary women and gender—and how we might upset those beliefs in favor of a more complex, inclusive lineage.” Fraleigh upsets those beliefs by lifting her female protagonists out of limitation and placing them in empowering visual scenarios, and emboldening them…

Lithuanian artist Tatjana Chechun paints gorgeous still lifes that capture the vibrant colors and crispness of her floral subject matter. Working with oils, Chechun strives to capture a sense of realism in her work, choosing to depict the beauty of nature as she observes it. “In my painting you can see the world through my eyes, colors and emotions,” she says. “My life is painting.” Chechun adds that she was born into a family of artists and has been drawing since childhood. Several of her most recent paintings provide excellent examples of the range of palettes the artist works in—Always together features a primarily blue theme, while Mallow and Peonies and scissors capture bright, brilliant pinks. Sunflowers in a basket depicts the quintessential sunny golden flowers in a wicker basket…

There are nearly 60 women artists represented in this issue of American Art Collector. This is not solely because March is International Women’s Month, in honor of which we present our annual Collector’s Focus dedicated specifically to women artists. Women artists can be found throughout the issue and increasingly this is the norm. They form the majority of the artists featured in our special section on florals and botanicals. Women artists are the focus of half of our gallery previews, one of which is organized around the theme of feminism. In our features department we highlight Audrey Flack and Lorraine Shemesh, two esteemed painters and sculptors with decades of creative trailblazing behind them. Flack, now in her 90s, is considered one of the original photorealists. Her work has used symbolism…

For centuries women have faced significant obstacles within a male-centric art world, struggling to have their voices heard or to be taken seriously. Against the odds, some female artists managed to find a way to have their creative voices heard and find great professional success during their lifetimes. Today, more and more female artists are joining their ranks—as historic women artists veiled in obscurity during their lifetimes are finally being recognized for their significance and talent and, for contemporary women artists, as galleries, collectors, museums and foundations make them the sole focus of exhibitions, endowments and collections. In the historic art market, gone are the days where only artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and Mary Cassatt are commanding six-figures and beyond. More works by women artists—Gertrude Abercrombie, Agnes Pelton, Isabel Bishop,…

AMERICAN IMPRESSIONIST SOCIETY (231) 881-7685 www.americanimpressionistsociety.org ALEX KELLY www.alexkellyart.co.uk BARBARA CRICCHIO-EFCHAK (802) 377-9961, www.bcefinearts.com BRENDA PINNICK Atlanta, GA, (404) 386-2772 brenda@brendapinnick.com www.brendapinnick.com BRITTEN 2109 E. Virginia Avenue, Denver, CO 80209, www.studiobritten.com CARRIE GOLLER Carrie Goller Gallery 18801 Front Street, Poulsbo, WA 98370 (360) 779-2388, info@carriegoller.com www.carriegollergallery.com CODA GALLERY 73400 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA 92260 (760) 346-4661, www.codagallery.com DEBORAH BIGELEISEN (561) 351-8755 deborah@deborahbigeleisen.com www.deborahbigeleisen.com GRACE DEVITO (203) 979-2472, gmdevito@yahoo.com www.gracedevito.com MEGAN SEITER ms@meganseiter.com www.meganseiter.com NANCY BALMERT Represented by Amsterdam Whitney Gallery New York, NY, (212) 255-9050 Prellop Fine Art Gallery Salado, TX, (254) 947-3930 TARA FUNK GRIM 9377 Westminster Avenue, Englewood, FL 34224, (610) 207-4229 tara@tarafunkgrim.com, www.tarafunkgrim.com Represented by Sanibel Art & Framing www.sanibelartandframe.com TERRY ROMERO PAUL www.trpart.com, romeropaul@aol.com Represented by Bee Street Gallery www.beestreetgallery.com Danielak Fine Art, www.danielakfineart.com…

French artist Anne-Christine Roda will be having Fher first exhibition in the United States at New York-based Arcadia Contemporary. Her representational portraiture is masterful, capturing all of the fundamentals of proper anatomy, value and color. But even with a skillful understanding of those principal elements in play, Roda’s artwork goes far beyond that. There’s an undeniable sense of emotion in her work, as though the artist is reaching deep into the souls of her subjects and inexplicably rendering them on canvas. The contemplative gazes of her models mirror the impossibly complex and multi-layered experience of being human. In En Dentelle, while the woman seems to be looking at a point “off camera,” when viewed at the right angle, it almost appears as though her eyes meet the viewer’s. It’s these…

Tucked halfway between Portland and the Pacific Coast is Dundee, Oregon, a small hamlet next to the Willamette River amid rolling hills, gorgeous vineyards and country roads that wind through tree-lined pastures. For Romona Youngquist, these lands are her home and her subjects. “The whole idea for this new work is places you want to go and visit just from looking at the paintings. I hope people want to step into the works and visit them. These are my quiet places,” Youngquist says, referencing the title of her upcoming show. “I generally paint within 10 miles of where I live. It seems like during Covid I explored even closer. I would explore on foot, but also by driving. I found so many great places really close to me. Magical places.…

Adèle Flamand-Browne’s carbon pigment and graphite powder drawings hover on the line between drawing and painting, with soft sepia-toned images that evoke feelings of warmth and wistfulness. “The way I settled into using carbon pigment was mostly an accidental find while seeking out new ways to draw,” the artist says, explaining that she came across a particular drawing material company from Portugal that sold powders and compressed bricks of pigment and randomly picked out some options that were water-soluble. “This has been my favorite accident of recent memory, because it led me towards a process that encapsulated my love for drawing, painting and printmaking. With the medium I am able to achieve values that span the range from almost invisible to rich darkness, as well as the ability to use…

The nonprofit Alliance for the Arts received roughly 700 entries for the 38th annual All Florida Exhibition, which will take place from March 1 through March 30 at the nonprofit’s 10-acre campus in Fort Myers. From those entries, this year’s juror Laura Guerrero, programs coordinator at Oolite Arts in Miami, will select approximately 60 pieces to display in the gallery. Guerrero will also be responsible for presenting cash awards for Best in Show during the opening reception on March 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. Anders Fernbach’s White Shirt, featured here, won first prize in the 2023 All Florida Exhibition. As the name suggests, the statewide competition—and one of the region’s most anticipated events of the year—invites artists working in a wide variety of media to submit up to three…

Echo Baker has been attracted to the human face—and rendering it—from a very young age. This affinity, which has since expanded to include the entire figure, withstood decades of other educational, career and family endeavors, until she was finally able to direct her attention back to her artistic aspirations. Baker is driven by a desire to “describe” what she sees in a person through drawing and painting, much like the writers she admires use words to describe their characters. “In my portraits I’m just trying to describe how I see and feel about this person, their appearance, their character or spirit…,” she says. “I always try to capture what’s captivating, unique or unusual about the person, their positive and uplifting qualities. I tend to elevate the image or the feeling…

“AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 YEARS” by JOSEPH SHEPPARD A memoir of a narrative artist ORDER FORM Please include check for $88.00 with your following name and address to: Joseph Sheppard 3908 North Charles street, Apr 1200, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218 Two volumes, includes 1011 pages of text and 164 color photos…

One of the first major exhibitions to follow NMWA’s reopening after renovation, New Worlds: Women to Watch 2024 features works by 28 visionary women artists. This is the seventh and largest installment of the museum’s Women to Watch exhibition series, which is presented every three years, and is a dynamic collaboration between the museum and its network of outreach committees. On view from April 14 to August 11, the exhibition gives visitors the opportunity to explore the museum’s renewed spaces after a long period of renovations.…

Richmond, Virginia-based photographer Carl Patow creates abstract, eccentric imagery through the process of meticulously layering digital photographs. The artist’s work often reflects important contemporary social issues like the environment, inequity and the challenges of today’s youth. An exhibition of recent works by Patow titled Do We Have the Courage? will be taking place at Artspace Gallery in Richmond from February 23 through March 16. Patow’s work has been shown at numerous local venues including 1708 Gallery InLight, the VCU Anderson Gallery, the Richmond Main Public Library, the Virginia Science Museum and more.…

Esteemed American painter and sculptor, Audrey Flack, ushered in her 90s not by sitting poolside, but by making vibrant new paintings and sculptures responding to the world. Hollis Taggart hosts a spellbinding exhibition of Flack’s recent work, beginning March 23 and running throughout April. The exhibition coincides with the publication of an illustrated memoir by the artist. For more than 60 years, Flack has been constantly curious, mastering new forms and media, and pushing herself to innovate and respond to the current moment. She does all of this while taining her own voice and offering hope, delight and inspiration. main- Her gallerist, Hollis Taggart, notes that “Audrey not only continues to perform at a high level l of technical proficiency in her 90s, but also her creative juices are remarkable…

33 CONTEMPORARY GALLERY Zhou B Art Center 1029 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609 Miami Showroom Anabel Ruiz Fine Art 4257 SW 72nd Ave, Miami, FL 3315 (708) 837-4534 sergio@33contemporary.com www.33contemporary.com www.artsy.net/33-contemporary AMERICAN ARTISTS PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE 47 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10003 www.aaplinc.org BAILEY MILLER baileyfineart@myyahoo.com www.baileysadventurepainting.com BARBARA MEIKLE FINE ART 236 Delgado Street Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 992-0400 info@meiklefineart.com www.meiklefineart.com THE BENNETT PRIZE www.thebennettprize.org BETH COLE www.bethcoleart.com ELENA VON KOHN Scottsdale, Arizona (480) 203-2311, info@elenavonkohn.com www.elenavonkohn.com GRACE DEVITO www.gracedevito.com J. KENNETH FINE ART 668 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262, (802) 540-0267 www.jkennethfineart.com LISA SPRIETSMA lisasprietsma@msn.com www.lisasprietsma.com PRIYA GORE 89 Victoria Street, Unit 706, West End, QLD 4101 Australia, +61424254673 hello@priyagore.art www.priyagore.art SUE KRZYSTON (602) 615-0327, skrzyston@aol.com www.suekrzyston.com VANESSA FRANÇOISE ROTHE (949) 280-1555 vanessarothe@icloud.com vanesarothefineart.com…

Encompassing most of the southern portion of the Rocky Mountains, and offering no shortage of breathtaking natural scenery, it’s no wonder the state of Colorado is often considered a place of respite and refuge. It also comes as no surprise that many creatives have flocked to the state, seeking inspiration among the mountainous yet diverse region. While many plan their skiing, hiking, site-seeing and spa trips in Colorado towns like Aspen, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Vail and Telluride, the art scenes in these towns are just as compelling. This also includes the Mile High City, the state capital and cultural epicenter of Denver—where visitors will find exciting art opportunities around every corner. Accurately described by the Denver visitors bureau at www.denver.org, as “urban sophistication meets outdoor adventure,” a visiting art lover…

Floral still lifes are by no means a groundbreaking genre but in the hands of Peggie Blizard they are as original as the fresh cut blossoms that fill every inch of her canvases. The larger-than-life scale of her subjects is only one quality that set Blizard’s florals apart from more traditional approaches. She places her riotous blooms in transparent bell jars that showcase her skill in capturing the bending of light and the distortion it creates as it passes through the glass. She enhances the effect by pushing flower petals down into the water, creating a mirror-like image of color. “Every painting is a challenge so to speak,” says Blizard. “Trompe l’oeil is always a challenge. The point is to make the image seem to jump off the page and…

Opening March 22, Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, presents a sprawling showcase for its 30th Anniversary Celebration exhibition. Approximately 40 works in a variety of subject matter are featured by nearly 30 prominent artists represented by the gallery. This diverse display of top quality, contemporary realism not only serves as a celebration, but an honoring of Principle’s stable of artists and the collectors that have helped pave the way for the gallery’s success. “By standing on principle and maintaining an unpretentious, welcoming gallery, we’ve fostered long-lasting relationships and respect with our artists and patrons,” says gallery director Clint Mansell. “We’ve inspired countless artists to pursue their passion and, for 30 years, we’ve had the honor of doing what we love.” Artist Christine Lashley adds, “Principle Gallery has been so great to…

Currently on view at the prestigious Salmagundi Club in New York City, is an exciting exhibition of works for sale to benefit the artists and the Salmagundi Club Library. Titled From a Distance: A Salmagundi Club Library Exhibition of Plein Air Paintings, visitors can expect to see over 70 plein air paintings by 36 artists, “offering a glimpse into a vital part of the artistic process: building a relationship between the artist and nature,” says curator and junior scholarship member, Eric Lei. Lei continues to explain that “From a Distance is a curated exhibition of plein air paintings by contemporary realist artists. Featuring a variety of sensibilities from romanticism to impressionism, the work is united by its modest scale and high degree of craftsmanship. This is a great opportunity for…

Watercolorist Chien Chung Wei has mastered a range of subject matter, an impressive feat. Seemingly with ease, he captures glowing city nocturnes, lush green landscapes, florals, birds and coastal scenes. He’s even painted a portrait of John Carrasco, one of the most widely painted models today. “His beautiful beard and captivating eyes are unforgettable,” the artist reflects. “I used to believe that watercolor was an unalterable medium, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized I was mistaken,” Chung Wei says of his chosen medium. “Watercolor not only allows for modifications but also enables continuous adjustments. I became enamored with this ‘new’ technique, always refining and modifying until I achieved what felt perfect, giving my watercolor pieces a scent of continual refinement. However, I also had to…