Brian Alfred is an American artist known for his style of flat and bold colors in his portraits. When I look at his work I am reminded of Julian Opie and Alex Katz. Brian Alfred was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the year 1974.
For his collegiate education Brian Alfred attended Pennsylvania State University earning a B.F.A. Alfred would go on to earn a M.F.A. from Yale University.
In this clip we visit a show featuring Brian Alfred that took place in 2006:
Alfred paints mainly in acrylics.
In this clip a short interview with Brian Alfred:
In this clip we watch as Brian Alfred executes a wonderful piece of street art! :
Price range information: Works range from $5,000 to $35,000. Alfred produces acrylic original paintings plus collage works.
I love the portraits of this artist the most. A great example of modern Pop Art.
Ai Xuan is the half brother to the more famous artist Ai Wei Wei. Ai Xuan was born in Jinhau, China in the year 1947.
For his artistic education Ai Xuan attended the China Central Academy of Fine Arts located in Beijing, China.
Ai Xuan works in oils and watercolor and inks. When he was at his peak, Ai Xuan was still a slower paced painter, finishing around 12 canvases per year. As he has aged he only completes around 2 pieces per year in oils. Ai Xuan paints much faster using the mediums of ink and watercolor.
Price range information: Works range from $50,000 to more than $5 million at auction.
In this clip we view Ai Xuan’s most celebrated work, his work with children.
Amy Myers is an American artist renowned for her very large drawings using a mixture of mediums. Amy Myers were born in Taylor, Texas in the year 1965. For his collegiate education Myers attended the Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, Missouri. Myers went on to earn a M.F.A. at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Myers’ father was world renowned physicist. Though Myers states she doesn’t know as much about math as her father, she does use physics ideas and math in developing her work.
Myers’ works on very large heavy paper, many times the sizes will be 80 to 90 inches on a side. Myers is in no hurry to finish these works taking as long as two years to finish a work.
Price range information: Sorry none available.
In this clip we visit a show featuring the large drawings of Ann Myers:
I love the many variety of shapes and also the contrast that Myers finds in her work.
Margaret Tafoya was a ceramics and pottery artist who was in the same league as Maria Martinez when it comes to the art of pottery. Tafoya works in red clay and also the black clay works we associate with Maria Martinez. Margaret Tafoya was born in Santa Clara, Pueblo, New Mexico in the year 1924.
Like many other families profiled here, Margaret Tafoya learned the craft of pottery from her parents. Her mother, Serafina Tafoya was a legendary master of pottery. Serafina lived from 1864 to 1949. Below an example of style.
In this clip some works by Margaret Tafoya are discussed in further detail:
Margaret Tafoya passed away in 2001.
Tafoya was also known by the name ” Corn Blossum.”
Price range information: Sorry none available.
I really enjoy these families that produce multiple generations of working artists!
Nicholas Krushenick was born in New York City in the year 1929. Krushenick is associated with the Pop Art and Abstract movements.Before going to college Krushenick signed up to fight in World War 2.
Price range information: Works range from $3,000 which includes prints and collages to original acrylics which can fetch as much as $100,000.
For his artistic education Krushenick attended the Art Student’s League of New York City. Krushenick also attended the Hans Hoffman School of Art.
Krushenick was a professor at the University of Maryland for parts of three decades, the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
In this clip we tag along with our art loving amigo James Kalm to a show featuring Nicholas Krushenick:
George Segal is an American artist who works with the figure often with cast paper. George Segal was born in New York City in the year 1924. For his artistic education Segal received great instruction attending the Pratt Institute, Cooper Union College, and graduating from New York University.
Segal also went on to post graduate studies earning a M.F.A. from Rutgers University.
A major breakthrough for the artist was a work titled “Man Sitting at a Table.” This work was significant because it gave a more complete look as before the artist was working with a certain body part such as the hands or torso. The artist would later do such works as a woman looking in a mirror or lying naked on a bed. Much more complete and interesting than a painting.
If you enjoy this artist and style be sure and check out my post on Duane Hanson. Hanson did a wonderful job of capturing people in sculpture, complete with time period dress and hairstyle. He is my favorite when it comes to this genre.
Price range information: Segal worked in many mediums including printmaking, painting, and sculpting with plaster, bronze, and wood. Prices range from $3,000 to $600,000.
George Segal passed away in 2000.
In this clip a brief bio on George Segal:
I enjoy the process the artist uses to capture the human figure!
Maximilien Luce was a French painter associated with the Neo-Impressionism and Pointillist movements. Maximilien Luce was born in Paris, France in the year 1858. The artist worked with many subjects and two favorite subjects included nude bathers and the landscapes. In addition to painting and engraving Luce also produced a large amount of lithographs.
When he began his career he was an engraver. Luce then worked as an Impressionist, then a Pointillist, and then returned to Impressionism. His father was a railway clerk. One of his first jobs was working in the studio of artist Eugene Froment. Luce produced woodblock prints.
The artist often used his wife as his muse.
Price range information: Works range from $10,000 to $750,000.
In this clip a great montage of works by Maximilien Luce set to music:
For additional artistic input Luce attended the L’Academie Suisse and also studied with Carolus- Duran, the main teacher of John Singer Sargent.
The artist left his career as an engraver behind as newer printing presses signified an end to his profession as a whole. Luce then decided he would try to be a full time painter.
Was elected President of the Society of Independent Artists. He resigned the position as he didn’t agree with the way Jewish artists were not being allowed to join this group.
Price range information: Works range from $100,000 to $4.2 million at auction for an oil painting.
Maria Martinez was born in 1887 in San Ildefionso Pueblo, New Mexico. She and her family helped to renew interest in the ancient black pottery made by her people. This area of Mexico is nearly 20 miles from Sante Fe. Its where the artist and her family live and execute their knowledge of pottery. Martinez was a Tewa Native American.
Maria Martinez learned how to create her pottery by watching her aunt Nicolasa and another women from the area named Maraget Tafoya. Maria Martinez was given a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
In this clip we watch as Maria Martinez and son go to collect the dirt to make her famous black clay pots. One of my favorite interviews!:
An excavation led by a Edgar Hewett led to some black on black pottery examples. Hewett wanted to find an artist who he could help teach to make a more modern version, perhaps for museums of these wonderful black vessels. He chose Maria Martinez as the artist to execute his plan.
Maria was disappointed as she could not get her black as dark as the ancient methods. She put these works out of view. However, when shown these works they sold very quickly and her method of making them “modern pottery!” And she was a very successful as an artist.
Price range information: Works range from $5,000 to $50,000.
Maria Martinez passeda way in 1980.
Yet another great family of artists! Its great to see how in tune with their materials they use, just different parts of the earth and water. So simple yet so beautiful.
Elliot Erwitt is an amazing French photographer renown for his humorous black and white photographs of people and animals. Erwitt was born to Russian parents in Paris, France in the year 1928. For his collegiate education Erwitt studied photography and film at Los Angeles City College.
In this clip a great interview with the photographer:
The artist joined the U.S. Army in the 1950s and was stationed in France and Germany.
After his army stint the artist began a long career as a freelance photographer eventually joining the famous Magnum Photo Agency.
Price range information: Works range from $1,000 t0 $20,000.
In this clip some of Elliot Erwitt’s famed photographs of dogs:
As a fan of dogs I enjoy his humorous compositions using dogs and people. If you enjoy this type of photographer be sure and check out my article on William Wegman and his photographs of the Whippet dog.
Erwitt has produced some documentary films and also has done many celebrity shoots.
Italo Scanga was an Italian/ American painter, sculptor, and printmaker. Italo Scanga was born in Lago, Italy in the year 1932. For his collegiate education Scanga attended Michigan State University located in East Langsing, Michigan where he earned a B.F.A. and M.F.A.
For his sculptures the artist enjoyed depicting everyday objects.
The artist was ready to leave Italy for America in 1939, but the same day he was to leave he got caught up in the Second World War as his country became invaded and he was stuck in Italy until 1947.
Scanga also worked a a professor at the University of California at San Diego. He also taught shortly after finishing college at the University of Wisconsin.
The artist served in the United States Army.
Scanga also produced collaborative works with glass master Dale Chihuly.
Price range information: Prints and paintings range from $1,000 to $10,000. No pricing available on sculpture works.
In this clip view a sculpture of Scanga made out of rusted steel tires:
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