Posted in exhibition, Uncategorized on Sep 24th, 2015
The Art Institute of Chicago is one of America’s oldest, and most prestigious museums. It’s collection is filled with masterpieces of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art; Old Masters; European and American decorative arts; Asian art; modern and contemporary art; architecture, industrial and graphic design; and American art such as Grant Wood’s famous “American Gothic†and Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks.†For three-quarters of a century, the […]
Read Full Post »
Japonisme was the term used to describe the influence of Japanese art on fashion and aesthetics on Western culture. Like many artists of his generation, Ben was influenced by Japanese woodcuts and had several hanging in his home, and through the European interpretation of the woodcuts in the work of Impressionist artists such as Manet, […]
Read Full Post »
I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer. The weather has cooperated, and here on the farm it has been as lush as ever. The response to my new book on Al Hirschfeld and its companion exhibition, as well as for my Grateful Dead exhibition in Chicago has been very gratifying. I am always delighted […]
Read Full Post »
Posted in exhibition, Rae, Studio on Aug 26th, 2015
In 1955 Ben Solowey embarked on Figure Composition, a painting that would become a favorite of the Soloweys, critics and collectors. Ben drew a full size charcoal study before starting his oil. It was not unusual for Ben to make preparatory studies before painting in oils, especially for larger works such as this painting. It was rare […]
Read Full Post »
The influence of Gilbert and Sullivan can be seen and heard all around us. Musicians and lyricists alike were influenced by the duo, including songwriters and composers from Irving Berlin to Andrew Lloyd Weber. Gilbert’s lyrics set the stage for the American musical to be born, with songs directly referencing the plot and addressing both […]
Read Full Post »
We have some good news and some bad news about our next show at the Studio of Ben Solowey. Let me start with the bad news. For only the second time in 23 years, we will not be opening a new show at the Studio in June. Unfortunately my work as a curator for museums […]
Read Full Post »
Posted in exhibition, Theater Portraits on May 15th, 2015
James Barton was a song and dance man, famous for his drunk act. Early in his career, he frequently appeared in burlesques, and worked closely with African American dancers, eventually becoming a great eccentric dancer. The young Barton began his career at age 8, performing across the country with his parents who owned their own […]
Read Full Post »
Posted in exhibition, Rae on Jun 5th, 2014
When asked how she and Ben met, Rae wrote to her friend, writer Helen Papashvilly, “On April 5, 1930, I was having dinner with this person, a mutual Philadelphia friend of Ben’s, in the area of 72nd St. when he said ‘Let’s stop and see my friend Ben Solowey, the artist,’ which we did do, […]
Read Full Post »
Posted in exhibition on Jun 5th, 2014
This unusual work was inspired, at least according to Rae Solowey, by a landmark Matisse retrospective held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1948. the exhibition had made a great impact on Ben and perhaps he saw how matisse evolved from traditional painting, in to a more modern abstract style. I doubt Ben ever […]
Read Full Post »
Posted in exhibition on May 21st, 2014
We are also proud to announce that on June 7th when we open our new exhibition, Still Lifes by Ben Solowey, we will have a limited edition catalogue featuring most of the works in the show. This handsome 11 × 8.5 inches, 20-page publication will be $30, and will only be available during the run of this […]
Read Full Post »
