Expect the unexpected from the expected
You Should Own Art, Edition 29
Well, hello!
The selections in this edition are a departure from our normal run of affairs. In keeping with the overall intention of connecting people with art and artists, I prefer to focus on the work of artists that are alive and working today. I’ve avoided sharing reproductions of well known artists because you can find that for yourself. Plus, it’s a lot more fun to peer into the infinite corners of the art multiverse and discover the miracles that await.
However, recently I discovered that a lot of the big museums have high quality printing services and offer a huge catalogue of reproductions. Yes, the majority are right up the middle; haystacks, water lilies, bustles, but shoot, there are also some weirdos in the mix too.
And this is what I have for you this month, a selection of the least expected art from the most expected places.
Before we jump in, I want to alert you to a podcast I’ve been digging lately. The Art Career podcast is a pretty compelling deep dive into the world of art and everyone involved in it. I like to hear about how things work and who does what. It might be a little esoteric for some of you, but there are some excellent interviews. My current favorite is with Chloe Wise, an artist whose work I follow closely. Great conversation!
Peruse past Y.S.O.A. Editions here | Follow the Y.S.O.A. Instagram here
From the collection of the National Gallery of Art
Girl Arranging Her Hair
Mary Cassatt
Print from USD$40
This might seem contradictory to what I said about not going straight up the middle, but I find this work so interesting. The placement of the figure, the contrast of warm and cool, the sort of awkward pose. Just weird enough. Having seen this IRL, I can tell you that you can just fall into the brushwork. Side note: you could do worse with your time than reading up on Mary Cassatt.
You can buy a print of this work here.
Abstract Painting 780-1
Gerhard Richter
From USD$40
Gerhard Richter is vexing. He’s the epitome of an uncompromising, severe artist. And, honestly, often I don’t know if I like his work. But I do - mostly. This is one of a series of works he’s produced over the past ten or so years. Some are absolutely monumental in scale. Here’s a documentary about Richter and the production of this body of work. If you watch it, let me know what you think.
You can buy a print of this work here.
Folding Chair
Alex Katz
From USD$40
I have unqualified love for the work of Alex Katz. He’s most famous for his portraits of figurative work, and somehow this is also almost a portrait. Perhaps of the chair itself, or perhaps of the person that was supposed to be sitting in it.
You can buy a print of this work here.
Tomorrow I May Be Far Away
Romare Bearden
From USD$40
This is a work that unfolds and rewards contemplation. At first I didn’t see the figure in the top left. So interesting.
You can buy a print of this work here.
Portrait of a Youth
Filippino Lippi
From USD$40
I’m always fascinated by paintings from hundreds foyers ago that could have been painted today. The colors, the surreality of the framing and background, make this seem entirely contemporary even though it was painted in 1485.
You can buy a print of this work here.
From the Museum of Modern Art
Tiger
Nathalie Du Pasquier
Limited edition print, edition of 35
USD$$595
I am so fired up that I found this. I came across Nathalie’s work a couple of years ago and never managed to track down any prints. And lo, here’s a whole selection of them on the MoMA store of all places. Take a look at the whole selection - they’re wild. Nathalie is a big deal in the design world, you should learn about her.
You can buy this work here.
The Ten Largest, No. 3, Youth, Group IV
Hilma af Klint
USD$350
In the past couple years, the contemporary art world (re)discovered the work of Hilma Af Klint. The fact that she was creating such daring and conceptual work decades before the usual suspects had caused some uncomfortable revisions to art history. Here’s a fascinating film if you’re interested in learning more.
You can buy a print of this work here.
From the Carnegie Museum of Art
Doris Clark (Moody) Seated On Buick Car With Steel Mill In Background
Charles “Teeny” Harris
From USD$35
This is such an interesting image. The ordered chaos of the steel mill in that background separated from the sleek forms of the Buick by the woman looking off camera is ambiguous and invites interpretation.
You can buy a print of this work here.
From the Museum of Fine Art, Houston
The Ladder
Philip Guston
USD$21.75
Philip Guston is one of my favorite artists. This is from the last majorly productive period of his life. It’s intensely personal a symbolic and carries many of the motifs that haunted his work for his entire life. Beginning last year, a major retrospective has traveled from museum to museum. I was lucky to catch it twice, once in Houston, and once in DC. If you were unable to see it, the book is fantastic.
You can buy a print of this work here.
From The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Empty Chair
Nellie Mae Rowe
From USD$30
I’m really into the drawing style, the color harmonies and the implied narrative. If you don’t know much about Nellie Mae Rowe (I didn’t), here’s a great video about a great artist.
You can buy a print of this work here.
From the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Around A Round
Frederick Hammersley
From USD$35
Big geometric forms, huge colors, a punny title - what’s not to love? I didn’t know anything about Frederick, in case you don’t either, here’s a bit of background.
You can buy a print of this work here.
Ok, that’s a wrap for this month. There were many more works that I want to share than I can fit into an email. I’ll post the overflow on Instagram.
See you in a month!