Thomas Nozkowski (1944-2019) Untitled (8-122) 2009 oil on linen on panel 22 1/8"x28 1/8"
bridgettemayergallery.com
It is with great sadness that I post the passing of the great American painter, Thomas Nozkowski. I have posted his work many times on this blog and have been and always be a great admirer of his unique vision and quality painting. The art world is much smaller today because of this great loss.
It is with sadness that I post Los Angeles based Miyoshi Barosh has passed away.
William T. Wiley P.T.S.D. Tires 2009 watercolor and ink on paper 30" x 22"
hosfeltgallery.com
William T. Wiley has been and continues to be a viable force in contemporary art practice in California and especially Northern California where he resides. He taught at U.C. Davis along with Robert Arneson, Richard Shaw as well as Bruce Nauman.
Wiley influenced and entire generation of artists, including myself, with his wry wit and consummate drawing skills. He, along with Robert Arneson and Richard Shaw and others comprised the nexus of the San Francisco Funk movement in the 60's. This movement coincided with the Imagist groups in Chicago about the same time and was a prime factor in my attending SAIC in the mid 70's. Needless to say, they were out of the main stream of artistic style and thought coming from the high priest critics in New York at the time. I will always be grateful to these groups for tacitly giving me the permission to pursue my path as I stumble through my endeavors as an artist.
Thomas Nozkowski Untitled (9-23) 2013 oil on linen on panel 22" x 28"
pacegallery.com
Norbert Schwontkowski Flut 2011 oil on canvas 78.75" x 94.5"
miandn.com
Interesting Juxtaposition: Peter Linde Busk 2012 (top) Keltie Ferris 2018 (bottom)
Tom Anholt Family Man 2018 oil on linen 67" x 51"
joshlilleygallery.com
Charlene von Heyl Corrido 2018 oil, acrylic, charcoal on linen 108" x 90"
petzel.com
Charlene von Heyl is a true painting master. She has a wonderful vocabulary of imagery and technique that flows effortlessly between abstraction and figuration giving the viewer something new to see in every group of paintings she does. The show at Petzel is no exception. I marvel at her inventiveness and her courage as a painter.
Joseph Yoakum Valley of El Capatan c. 1960's watercolor and ball point pen on paper
9" x 12"
fleisher-ollmangallery.com
Joseph Yoakum's drawings are avidly collected by folk art collectors as well as museums, artists and fine art collectors around the world. My take on his popularity is that his work cuts across all genres. They are beautifully drawn and composed using delicate line and muted color to define his impression of places he visited in his mind. The originality of his style and authenticity of his approach to making his art resonated with people with the ability to see and feel his presence in the work.
In my experience viewing contemporary artists today, I feel many are trying to capture Yoakum's approach with varying degrees of success. What is almost impossible to attain for contemporary artists is the authenticity that comes from an inner directed "outsider" person of color that grew up in the middle of the last century. That experience is is what makes his work so unique, beautiful and touching.
