Each artist harnesses the power of the materials and ideals of their time to challenge the conventional wisdom of art.
A 1967 painting by Willem de Kooning elevates waves of color to an abstract mountain ridge while Natalie Edgar deftly employs negative space with color to take the viewer on her abstract journey. Original works on paper by Franz Kline confidently show action and movement with little color or discernible forms. British Artist David Hockney’s series from the Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm invites the imagination to roam freely. A former Jesuit priest Terence Netter paints minimalist landscapes in an offering of serenity.
Conceptual Artist Richard Hambleton known for his energetically painted black figures jumping, running, lurking on urban walls around the world. His Standing Shadowman painted permanently on canvas stands with confidence in order to evoke our reaction. Paul Gauguin contrasts darkness with the rawness of a primitive style in his wood block prints.
The cartoon icons of Keith Haring simply announce his pop culture message. Robert Indiana emphasizes his important message of L-O-V-E and H-O-P-E in capital letters, arranged in a square with a tilted letter "O". Pop art cartoon figures and text are combined in parody in work by Roy Lichtenstein.
Richard Estes creates and masterfully renders photorealist cityscapes. Margaret Morrison tantalizes us into her hyper realistic oil paintings with decadent Italian beverages.
James Rosenquist adapts the visual language of advertising and pop culture to the context of fine art. Andy Warhol in his pre-pop work creates a whimsical series of society recipes catering more to the artistic than the culinary — more to expressionism than to realism. Warhol’s early ink drawings are rendered in clean ink lines displaying his exceptional draftsmanship of figures.
Kenji Nakayama unites organic flora and urban scenes in precise multi layered stencils using spray paint. Robert Rauschenberg’s use of solvent transfer, collage and silkscreen are previously used only in the commercial process.
Together these sixteen artists represent over one hundred years of art inspiring and transcending their genres.