Innholdsfortegnelse for January-February 2025/No. 79 i American Fine Art Magazine

ROCKWELL KENT (1882-1971) Alaska Impression #37 In the summer of 1918, Rockwell Kent and his 9-year-old son traveled to remote Fox Island in Alaska to spend seven months in a cabin overlooking Resurrection Sound where he hoped to find spiritual and artistic renewal. He brought with him 22 small wooden panels on which he painted his Alaska Impressions in plein air, later exhibiting them in New York to both critical acclaim and financial success. This view was made in front of his cabin looking across the sound toward Bear Glacier. Kent captured the frozen atmosphere with quick energetic brush strokes whose gestural significance is heightened within the context of a cool, muted gray-blue palette. The work retains its original fame designed by Kent’s artist friend Max Kuehne. Thomas Colville Fine…

The Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., is home to the largest collection of American sculpture in the world. The last major public survey of American sculpture was 50 years ago. The museum’s current exhibition, The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture, is the result of exhaustive research and collaboration among a number of institutions and scholars. It “examines the role of American sculpture, from the 19th century to today, in understanding and constructing the concept of race in the United States and how this medium has shaped the way generations have learned to visualize and think about race.” Stephanie Stebich, the museum’s former director, writes in the exhibition catalogue, “From these critical conversations both inside and outside the museum, an essential question arose for the…

For the past 40 years the Coeur d’Alene Art Auction has specialized in the finest classical Western and American art representing past masters and outstanding contemporary artists, including Charles M. Russell, Frederic Remington, Maynard Dixon, Thomas Moran, members of the Taos Society of Artists and other fine Western artists. The auction principals have more than 100 years of combined experience in selling fine art and have netted their clients more than $400 million in the last 20 years alone. As the largest auction house in the country dealing in Western and American artwork, the auction house holds more than 160 world record prices and achieves consistent sales for its consignors with 96 percent of all lots sold on average at their three annual auctions. Coeur d’Alene Art Auction’s 2025 in-person…

Christie’s American art department presents the annual sale of 19th Century American and Western Art on January 23. This curated auction of American paintings, works on paper and sculpture is led by several marquee collections, including Grand Views of America: Property from a Distinguished Private Collection, headlined by Thomas Moran’s stunning landscape Grand View Trail. The sale will include important and fresh-to-market examples from the traditional 19th-century and Western genres, including several exciting new discoveries. A consistent market leader in American art, Christie’s holds countless world auction records, including the record for American art overall with Edward Hopper’s Chop Suey at $91,875,000 in 2018, and for any 19th century American painting, with the sale of Emanuel Leutze’s Washington Crossing the Delaware for $45,045,000 in 2022. Upcoming auctions: Outsider Art January 22,…

On January 23, Christie’s will offer around 100 American artworks to bidders during a winter sale in New York City. Titled American Paintings, the auction will feature works from a number of consignors, as well as two private collections that have been identified by Christie’s as Grand Views of America: Property from a Distinguished Private Collection and Property from an Important Northeastern Collection. The curated selection of material being offered to bidders will represent some of the most important American painters and sculptors of the last two centuries, with their works telling classic American stories about natural beauty, exploration and diverse cultures. One segment that speaks to these ideals, Hudson River School paintings, will play a large role in the sale, says Quincie Dixon, an associate specialist at Christie’s and…

Heritage Auctions’ November 15 American Art Signature Auction broke numerous auction records, bringing in a total of $8.2 million in sales. Chief among the signature sale was a collection of 25 works from the Boy Scouts of America Settlement Trust, which hammered at $3,715,500. “We were honored to present this museum-caliber collection, which not only celebrates the artistry of Norman Rockwell and other luminaries of the Golden Age but also embodies the rich cultural heritage at the core of our mission as America’s largest auction house,” says Aviva Lehmann, Heritage’s senior vice president of American art. Among the highlights in the BSATrust collection were five works by Norman Rockwell, whose collaboration with the Boy Scouts ofAmerica lasted for 64 years. To Keep Myself Physically Strong, published in 1964 in the…

Sponsored by theWorks Progress Administration (WPA) and the largest of the New Deal programs created to fund the visual arts during the Great Depression, the Federal Art Project (1935-1943) was a relief measure to employ artists and artisans to create murals, paintings, sculpture, graphic art, posters, photography, theater set design, and arts and crafts. More than 100 community art centers were established throughout the country to research and document American art and design, and coordinate commissions of public art with little or no government restrictions or control. The sweeping project is estimated to have sustained 10,000 artists and craftsmen during the Great Depression and resulted in roughly 400,000 artworks. In 1943, the Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) received 256 prints, drawings, watercolors and paintings including the first objects by African…

The 70th anniversary of the Washington Winter Show is set for January 10 to 12 in Washington, D.C. As the nation’s second oldest charity antique show, the annual event features an array of fine art and antiques from more than 40 dealers from across the country. Each year, the Washington Winter Show brings in crowds in the thousands to explore the treasures on display, as well as take part in numerous lectures and panel discussions by some of the most esteemed figures in design and historic preservation. This year’s theme “Preserving the Future of Our Past” honors the show’s seven-decade legacy Keynote speakers Jennifer Gracie and Zach Shea of Gracie Studios will conduct a lecture titled “The Art of Gracie: 125Years of Creating Hand painted Wallpapers for the World’s Most…

Sam Gilliam Lecture Series Johns Hopkins University and the Sam Gilliam Foundation recently announced the launch of the new Sam Gilliam Lecture Series hosted at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center inWashington, D.C. The series honors the artistic legacy and social justice commitments of the lateWashington D.C.-based artist, Sam Gilliam. Launching this March, the series will focus on themes addressed in Gilliam’s life and work, including racial equity, democracy and the transformative power of art, delivered by a variety of prominent artists and speakers. update critical infrastructure, including modernizing conservation studios; and unite the museum and the adjacent Frick Art Research Library. Frick Collection reopens this spring The Frick Collection has announced that it will reopen its historic buildings on 1 East 70th Street in New York City in April…

Deepening the ties to American and European impressionism to the Dixon Gallery & Gardens museum, based in Memphis, Tennessee, comes the new acquisition, In Rittenhouse Square, by Elizabeth Sparhawk-Jones (1885-1968). “The Dixon continues its mission of expanding its collection of works from women artists, making In Rittenhouse Square an ideal selection for the museum,” says Kevin Sharp, the Linda W. and S. Herbert Rhea director. “A piece of this quality is rare in the art market, as Sparhawk-Jones withdrew from the American art scene in 1913. Many of her works focus on Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square, which she saw as a representation of modern life that could be observed from a park bench.” During her education at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Sparhawk-Jones was heavily inspired by her teacher,…

As part of its 50th anniversary, the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden will mount a new exhibition, Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860-1960, featuring some 208 artworks by 117 artists, all from the permanent collection, and including works by 19 contemporary practitioners such as Torkwase Dyson, Rashid Johnson, Annette Lemieux, Dyani White Hawk and Flora Yukhnovich. Organized by Hirshhorn associate curator Marina Isgro and assistant curator Betsy Johnson, the thrust of the exhibition presents the rise of Modernism and the movement in art from realism to abstraction and from an emphasis on the revelations in surface appearances to a new interest in representing apparitions, dreams and visions distilled from the imagination. Overarching all, the artists and works in the exhibition remind us that Modernism, in a very real…

Freeman’s | Hindman is a leading fine art auction house connecting cities nationwide to the global art market. With offices and salerooms throughout the country, the auction house conducts over 140 auctions annually. Freeman’s | Hindman’s American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists sales feature works of modernism, American impressionism, Hudson River School, Ashcan, regionalism, plus other movements and genres. Freeman’s | Hindman sales have achieved exceptional results for renowned artists such as three generations of the celebrated Wyeth family (N.C. Wyeth, son Andrew and daughter Henriette, and grandson Jamie), Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood and Jasper Francis Cropsey; icons of American art and illustration like Norman Rockwell; graduates of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, such as Cecilia Beaux and Arthur B. Carles; and notable Philadelphia figures like William Glackens, Jessie…

Leland Little Auctions has specialized in the sale of fine high end collectible objects for over 20 years. Their mission is to provide collectors, estates and institutions with outstanding, world-class auction services. The strength of Leland Little Auctions is a team of experienced professionals dedicated to their fields that vary from fine art to fine wine and jewelry. Producing a successful auction is a complex operation, requiring expertise in departments. For every job, for each logistic, the Leland team brings to bear exceptional talent, experience and grace. Their gallery space is elegantly designed with sophisticated spaces where collectors can meaningfully engage with department specialists and their carefully curated offerings, whether in person or online. Visit their website for a complete schedule of sales across a variety of genres. Upcoming auctions:…

Under the banner, Scottsdale Art Auction, dealers Mike Frost (Bartfield Galleries of New York City) and Brad Richardson (Legacy Galleries of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Santa Fe, New Mexico) joined together and presented their first sale on April 2, 2005, at Richardson’s Legacy Gallery on Main Street in Old Town Scottsdale. For almost 20 years, Scottsdale Art Auction has organized a Western art auction held in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona, in the spring of each year. Recent demand has triggered the addition of an online auction, yearly in August. Since its record-setting inception, Scottsdale Art Auction has collected more than 250 world auction records. “Combining our various fields of expertise and taking advantage of our geographic diversity, we should be able to provide a valuable service to collectors and artists throughout the…

Sotheby’s reaches every point of the worldwide art market, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris. With 80 locations in 40 countries, nine salerooms around the world, Sotheby’s conducts some 250 auctions a year in more than 70 categories. Their digital innovations allow clients to connect with them any time, from any place, on any device. “Sotheby’s New York office is not only the headquarters for our global business,” says assistant vice president and American art specialist, Caroline Seabolt. “It’s also a place that welcomes collectors and art lovers. That’s true for our current headquarters onYork Avenue, and it will remain a guiding principle as we move in 2025 to our new home in the Breuer Building.” Upcoming auctions: Art of the Americas, Featuring the American West January 24…

ONLINE SHANNON’S FINE ART AUCTIONEERS JANUARY 23 Online Fine Art Auction Shannon’s first auction of the year will include nearly 200 lots of fine art, with a variety of historic American art hitting the auction block, including Hudson River School artists, American impressionism and more. Artists represented in the upcoming sale include Edward CharlesVolkert, Mabel May Woodward, Priscilla Warren Roberts, Emile Gruppe, William Hart and Charles Burchfield. Bidding will take place on www.shannons.com, and the online catalog will be available starting January 13. Shannon’s will also host a preview in their gallery for one week prior to the auction. LAS VEGAS, NV MORPHY AUCTIONS JANUARY 24 Old West Auction Going strong at its new Las Vegas location, the traditional Old West Auction, held in conjunction with the Old West Show…

In the third installment of its America Coast to Coast series, CW American Modernism is showcasing the depth and breadth of works created by artists in the Atomic Age of 1950s America. More than two dozen paintings across a wide array of art movements and styles willbe on view by such artists as Robert Vickrey, George Marinko, Bendor Mark, Marshall Simpson, Roslynn Estelle Middleman, Ethel Polacheck Margolies, Karl Zerbe, William Thon and Clarence Holbrook Carter. “American art in the 1950s is compelling because of its variety. Although typically characterized through the abstract expressionist paintings that made New York City the global artworld capital, the 1950s also saw a great diversity of styles, including various regional approaches from artists working across the United States,” says Chris Walther, owner of CW American…

Widely considered a “prestigious” cultural event, The Palm Beach Show returns toWest Palm Beach, Florida, for its 22nd edition. The 2025 showcase upholds its standard in luxury, featuring phenomenal works of art, antiques and jewelry—ranging in date from the antiquities to the 21st century—and presented by distinguished exhibitors from around the globe. Scott Diament, president and CEO of the Palm Beach Show Group, notes that the show’s mission “is to bring together discerning collectors with exhibitors who offer some of the most unique and extraordinary pieces available today. This event provides a truly refined experience, where attendees have the opportunity to find rare and exceptional items that are not only valuable but rich in history. It’s all about helping collectors discover one-of-a-kind items that resonate on a personal level and…

ONGOING The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM • WASHINGTON, D.C. Through 82 pieces, the Smithsonian explores how American sculpture has shaped how generations visualize and conceptualize race. americanart.si.edu ONGOING Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960 HIRSHHORN MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN • WASHINGTON, D.C. This exhibition captures shifting cultural landscapes through 270 artworks by 126 artists in the museum’s permanent collection. hirshhorn.si.edu ONGOING The Work of Art: The Federal Art Project, 1935-1943 SAINT LOUIS ART MUSEUM • ST. LOUIS, MO Comprised of 58 objects, the exhibition features artists from historically marginalized groups, stemming from the museum collection. www.slam.org ONGOING Illustrators of Light: Rockwell, Wyeth and Parrish from the Edison Mazda Collection NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM • STOCKBRIDGE, MA The innovative spirit of Edison…

What event (gallery show, museum exhibit, etc.) in the next few months are you looking forward to, and why? I am looking forward to visiting Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876-Now, curated by Akili Thommasino and on view at the Met. It’s wonderful to see the show receiving such excellent reviews. I have always been interested in learning more about how American artists working in the 19th and early 20th century drew inspiration from the African diaspora. Just as Ancient Roman and Greek history and culture provided a rich catalyst for American art styles and movements, including neoclassicism, Black American artists in particular were also drawing on other ancient civilizations, like Egypt, in their work. What are you reading? Potawatomi botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Gathering Moss: A…

Located in Boston’s historic Beacon Hill neighborhood, Grogan & Company is a high-end, full-service boutique auction house. The firm routinely achieves top prices at auction across all collecting categories of American artwork, and holds the record auction sales price for numerous New England artists. The Grogan & Company team’s commitment to providing personalized attention to consignors, buyers and each item they handle, makes them leaders in the fine art and jewelry auction industries. Whether you live around the corner from their gallery or across the country, and whether you have a single object or an entire collection, they will treat you like a neighbor while commanding their global reach to maximize the value of your items. Call or email to receive a complimentary auction estimate. Upcoming auctions: Fine Rugs and…

OldWest Events, partnering with Morphy Auctions, will host the annual Old West Show & Auction on January 24 and 25, 2025. The event consists of a vendor sale and a live auction, with prestigious dealers and galleries from across the country represented in the vendor show. Both the show and auction will feature authentic Western and Native American artifacts for sale. The Old West Show, founded by Western dealer Brian Lebel, is regarded as the premier vendor show in the Western collecting community, while the auctions regularly offer exemplary examples of highly collectible works from both contemporary and deceased fine artists like Edward Borein, Maynard Dixon, A.D.M. Cooper, Charles M. Russell, Edward S. Curtis, W.H.D. Koerner, Will James, Joe Beeler, Marjorie Reed, Olaf Wieghorst, William Moyers, Michael Coleman and many others. Old…

The remarkable collection of Patricia Scipio-Brim, born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, will be on offer during Swann Auction Galleries’ upcoming winter sale. Abstract Beauty: the Collection of Patricia Scipio-Brim, which takes place February 6, spans over a century of modern, post-war and contemporary African American art. A number of important African American artists like Charles Alston, McArthur Binion, Ed Clark, Beauford Delaney, Norman Lewis, Alma Thomas and Jack Whitten will be represented in the sale. This also marks the first time the collection has come to auction at Swann. “Scipio-Brim’s collection represents the enterprise of a trailblazing collector,” says Nigel Freeman, Swann’s vice president and head of fine art. “Patricia was a successful lawyer who privately cultivated a practice of collecting over decades, visiting artists’ studios, museums, galleries…

Subtle color tones, expressive paint and soft-edged forms are used to achieve the atmospheric aesthetic we have come to know as Tonalism, a style that emerged in the 1880s in the aftermath of the Civil War. The Mattatuck Museum is presenting a selection of roughly 20 American Tonalist works, most of which will be donated to the museum’s permanent collection exhibition by Frederic Thaler and Kathleen Love Mooney following the exhibition. The artworks featured in At First Light: American Tonalism, span from the early 1880s to the late 1910s. “Tonalism was established during the Reconstruction Era in the aftermath of the American Civil War, which saw complete political, social and cultural upheaval throughout the country,” says assistant curator Becca Lo Presti. “This period also coincided with rapid industrialization. Tonalists sought…

With a mission to raise funds for the East Side House Settlement—benefitting New Yorkers in need—the long-running Winter Show returns to New York City’s Park Avenue Armory. This year, the event brings together over 70 exhibitors from around the world, and presents a range of fine art, antiques and design, while also featuring engaging programming. Besides the events philanthropic endeavors, The Winter Show features high-quality objects and artworks ranging from paintings, sculpture and works on paper, to fine furniture, jewelry, rare books, as well as ceramics and glass that span 5,000 years from antiquity to today. Attendees will also enjoy an array of programming at the event, starting with the Opening Night Party on January 23, from 5 to 9 p.m., and the Young Collectors Night on January 30, from…

During mid-October Initiatives in Art and Culture hosted its 26th annual Arts & Crafts Conference in Pennsylvania’s Brandywine RiverValley. Held in a different location each year, the immersive, multi-day “fieldtrip”-style conference focuses on a region’s unique contributions and expressions within the broader context of the countrywide American arts and crafts movement. This year’s event focused on the Philadelphia area and how the movement (which originated in Britain around 1880 before sweeping rapidly across the United States) manifested itself in planned communities such as RoseValley and the Studio Craft Movement. In relation to the latter, there was a particular focus on the work and legacy ofWharton Esherick (1887-1970) and George Nakashima (1905-1990), a famed woodworker, architect and furniture maker considered one of the fathers of the American craft movement. One of…