Artists need space to create. Want an inside peek at studios of famous fine art figures? Big to small, lofty, skylit, bold or beautiful…We’ve compiled 5 artist studios in the U.S. that are sure to impress!
Let’s start the tour!
1. Willem de Kooning’s studio – East Hampton, New York
Willem de Kooning’s studio – East Hampton, New York
Born in 1904 in the Netherlands, Willem de Kooning is referred to be the Abstract expressionist in the post-World War II era.
He says, “The attitude that nature is chaotic and that the artist puts order into it is a very absurd point of view, I think. All that we can hope for is to put some order into ourselves.”
His studio exemplifies the order and chaos that he refers to as an artist. Moreover, it is known that the inspiration of some of his biomorphic shapes of abstract work were derived from objects found in his studio. In 1946, Kooning was faced with financial problems and he did not have the resources to buy artists’ pigments. As a solution to keep his career, he began working with only black and white pigments. Some of these works include: Light in August, Black Friday, Zurich, and Mailbox.
2. Roy Lichtenstein’s studio – Southampton, New York
Roy Lichtenstein’s studio – Southhampton, New York
An American pop artist, often associated with Andy Warhol and his style of art, Roy Lichtenstein has been a leading figure in the pop art movement during the 1960s. It was 30 years later that he met the photographer Laurie Lambrechtwho helped him with the studio showcase at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museumas part of his artworks. Even his studio looks like a comic book.
3. Jackson Pollock’s studio – East Hampton, New York
Jackson Pollock’s studio – East Hampton, New York
Another Abstract expressionist, known for his drip paintings is Jackson Pollock. Born in 1912, Pullock who later on suffered from alcoholism finds the perfect space on the floor.
“On the floor I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more part of the painting, since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the painting.”
And you won’t see chairs and tables in his studio, nothing but a large space to drip colors and dance around a large-scale canvas.
4. David Hockney’s studio – Bedford Corners, New York
David Hockney’s studio – Bedford Corners, New York
A studio doesn’t have to be indoors! David Hockney transformed the woodsy landscape into a temporary atelier to paint and feel the surrounding of nature that has been the inspiration for the artist. With these outdoor digs there is no need to worry about rent, electricity, or street noise. You may just have to be prepared for the weather!
5. Georgia O’Keefe’s studio – Abiquiu, New Mexico
Georgia O’Keefe’s studio – Abiquiu, New Mexico
O’Keeffe the originator of female iconography, came to the attention of the art world as the first woman with art training during the 19th Century. One of her most famous paintings is Summer Days. She is also known for the series of Clouds paintings and as a whole O’Keefe represents a very nature oriented character that is transitioned into her studio design. Wooden floors and furniture, light walls and big windows is all the artist needs to transform a blank canvas.
Which studio did you like the most?
Leonardo da Vinci once said, “An artist’s studio should be a small space because small rooms discipline the mind and large ones distract it.”
Do you agree with da Vinci or would you prefer endless space like Hockney?
Breaking news! The Sotheby’s recorded their biggest auction in their 268-year history. After selling 69 works, recording total of $375 million and achieving 95.6% sales value on Tuesday, Sotheby boosted to all art collectors around the world.
Yesterday, a Mark Rothko painting sold for $75 million and a Jackson Pollock painting for $40 million. Dealers feel this Rothko piece achieved such a high price because of the big size and tropical hues, which are considered desirable aspects by collectors. The Rothko was expected to sell for only $50 million, but five bidders chased after the painting, until a Sotheby’s specialist Charlie Moffett made the last call with $75 million.
Mark Rothko No 1Untitled Royal Red and Blue
Other works included were Andy Warhol’s Suicide piece which fetched $15.2 million and Franz Kline’s Shenandoah which sold for $9.3 million. Sotheby’s specialist Anthony Grant noted that the majority of the buyers were from United States, Malaysia, France, Switzerland and South America.
Andy Warhol, Suicide
While many attended the auction, most of the bids were made anonymously over the phone. Other top telephone bids recorded were Willem de Koonin’s Abstraction painting for $19.6 million, the Francis Bacon’s portrait Untitled (Pope) for $29.7 million and Gerhard RichterAbstract Painting for $17.4 million.
Francis Bacon, Untitled (Pope)
With the economy in mind, the Sotheby’s auction took an unexpected turn for many dealers and auctioneers, but the auction art market has always been an adrenaline driven experience. “If you want to talk about the market being happy, healthy and well, well, here it is. That’s probably about as good as it gets.” said Tobias Meyer, auctioneer and worldwide head of contemporary art (Sotheby’s).
-Yekaterina Sahakyan
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Back in the winter, The Bare Square highlighted some creative couples that loved making art together.
From Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s The Gates to Gilbert and George’s Singing Sculptures, the duos channeled their sparks of love into monumental works of art.
With the power to create and the power to love going hand in hand, there’s no wonder that famous artists throughout history have paired up for romance.
For abstract expressionist artists Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner, their love manifested after participating in the same New York City art exhibit in 1941. As a married couple, Krasner devoted her life to support Jackson’s art career, putting her own artistic dreams on hold until after Pollock’s untimely death.
Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock
Spanish painter Pablo Picasso first encountered surrealist photographer Dora Maar at a Paris cafe in 1936 while she was playing the “knife game” — swiftly stabbing the point of a knife between her five splayed fingers. Since then, their romance flourished for nine years and Maar became Picasso’s leading muse.
Pablo Picasso and Dora Maar
Mexican painters Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera first developed a relationship on a strictly professional level. As a young artist, Kahlo admired Rivera’s work and often sought out his guidance on pursuing art as a career. Amid his encouragement the pair fell in love and eventually married in 1929.
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera
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How fateful that just as we celebrate Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt’s 150th birthday this past week, a lost painting of his turns up as well!
Within a recent trend of rediscovered artwork, Trumpeting Putto, a late 1800′s ceiling fresco, resurfaced from the depths of an Austrian family’s garage.
Gustav Klimt (Photo: Getty)
While the art dealer representing the owner, Josef Renz, declared the painting a Klimt, Renz now faces skepticism.
According to Alfred Weidinger, a Klimt specialist and curator of the Schlossmuseum Belvedere in Vienna, Renz attributed Trumpeting Putto to the wrong brother.
Weidinger said Gustav Klimt’s less-famous brother, Ernst Klimt, created the painting, consistent with other discovered works — studies for Trumpeting Putto made by Ernst.
Yet, considering the Klimt brothers shared a studio for some time, where they worked on numerous pieces collaboratively, art experts are still investigating the painting’s provenance.
But Gustav Klimt wasn’t the only famous artist to experience brotherly love. Influential brothers of other fine artists actually helped shape their more-famous siblings’ career.
Theo van Gogh, the younger brother of post-Impressionist Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, served as Vincent’s major support system. Because of Theo’s consistent financial and emotional aid, Vincent easily devoted himself entirely to painting.
Vincent and Theo Van Gogh, 1878 (Photo: Paris Provence Van Gogh)
Charles Pollock, the eldest brother of abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock, was also a painter himself. When Charles decided to travel to New York City to study fine art at the Art Students League of New York, his younger brother followed suit, prompting Jackson’s monumental career.
Charles and Jackson Pollock, 1930 (Photo: Charles Pollock Archives)
When the father of pop art legend Andy Warhol died, Andy’s older brother, John Warhola, took over parenting responsibilities at age 17. Determined to send Andy to college, John scraped together enough money to pay for Andy’s education at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie-Mellon University).
Paul Warhola, right, and Andy Warhol, center, 1940 (Photo: Warhola)
Of course, fine artists aren’t the only creative minds to find solace in their brother’s support. Take Duane and Gregg Allman, for example. The siblings founded the American rock/blues Allman Brothers Band which went on to win Grammy Awards and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
Check out the throwback performance below and watch the brothers in action!
Yet for visual artist and composer Christian Marclay, twenty-four hours is just the right amount.
Christian Marclay (Photo: Nadav Kander)
In 2010, Marclay released a twenty-four hour film phenomenon, “The Clock”, composed of time-related movie moments that accurately account for every minute of the day.
Is this the work of a man with too much time on his hands, or of an inexplicable genius?
With “The Clock” exhibited at the 2011 Venice Biennale, a space shared with the likes of Wassily Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock, the latter seems most appropriate.
Using small segments from thousands of films like “Gone With The Wind,” “A Clockwork Orange,” and “The Godfather,” Marclay spent three years piecing together a working clock that actually syncs with real time in the outside world.
Through spoken words and shots of various time-dictating devices, the music, dialogue, and action of one film scene blends into those of another.
When first screened in New York City in 2011, “The Clock” welcomed art lovers and film buffs to the Paula Cooper Gallery for free — after a two-hour-long wait!
The line to see Christian Marclay’s “The Clock” outside the Paula Cooper Gallery. (Photo: Essrog)
And now you get a second chance to see this truly epic 24-hour film.
“The Clock” will run Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to Sunday 10 p.m. Admission is free, first-come, first-served.
Check out a sneak peak of “The Clock” below for a preview of Marclay’s creative brilliance. How many films and actors can you identify in just three minutes?
