In the fall of 1968, cultural critic and novelist Albert Murray conducted a series of oral histories with four members of the Spiral Group of African American artists: Charles Alston, Emma Amos, Merton Simpson, and Hale Woodruff. In the Fall 2023 issue of the Archives of American Art Journal, literary scholar Paul Devlin and oral historian Benji de la Piedra explore many aspects of these expansive conversations, including the influential role the interviewer often plays in the direction and outcome of an oral history. #SmithsonianBHM #AlbertMurray #CharlesAlston #EmmaAmos #MertonSimpson #HaleWoodruff #Archives of American Art 📷 : Charles Henry Alston at the opening of his solo exhibition at Fairleigh Dickinson University (1968) or Huntington Hartford Gallery of Modern Art (1969). Gelatin silver print. Photographer unknown. Charles Henry Alston Papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. 📷 : Hale Woodruff at Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, 1942. Black-and-white film negative. Photograph by Arthur Rothstein. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Augusta Savage 🤍 . (If any shared information is wrong, just politely say so. If you don't like the person, thing or whatever it may be that I have shared, kindly ignore the post. If you have any hate to spill, just don't. This account will share things and people of all different views, backgrounds and personalities--there is no agenda other than the appreciation of figures, talents and personalities through time.) . . . . . . . . . . . #augustasavage #jacoblawrence #edmonialewis #almathomas #hughiesmith #mertonsimpson #alfredconteh #charleypalmer #henryossawa #jackwhitten #johnbiggers #elizabethcattlett #beauforddelaney #donaldlocke #jamesvanderzee #robertcolescott #erniebarnes #clementinehunter #thorntondial #juliemehretu #o #blackartists #blackhistory #sculpture #harlemrenaissance #harlem #artist #art #blackhistoryoffebruary #cingasamsonpainting
The most complete gallery catalog of the work of Merton Simpson to date, “Merton D. Simpson: Paintings From a Life in Art” unites images of many of the artist’s most important works, spanning over five decades of his career. The catalog was issued to accompany a 2005 exhibition of Simpson’s work with the same title. It includes a foreword by Bill Hodges and 37 full-color reproductions in its 40 pages, and is available on eBay and Amazon, as well as in person at the gallery. #MertonSimpson #NYCGallery #BlackArtist
“Im painting, what I think I see. ugly people fighting ugly people," simpson says. "I see wrongness on either side. I just think that its an ugly thing, I want to paint it as that. And I think if people can see It, and frown upon it enough, it might make them think. ‘Am I really a part of this? Then I should want to do something’” #mertonsimpson
selects from ‘Beyond the Spiral’ at ACA Galleries; through Friday, December 22, 2023 slide 1 — Norman Lewis; Untitled (Abstraction), 1974, Pencil on paper, 14 3/4 x 20 1/2 in. slide 2 — Felrath Hines; Untitled, ca. 1958, Oil on paper, 24 x 36 in. slide 3 — Felrath Hines; Sea Shell, 1962, Oil on canvas, 40 x 34 in. slide 4 — Merton Simpson; Figurescape 3, 1977-98, Oil on board, 26 x 40 in. slide 5 — William Majors; Untitled ( #1), 1968, Paper collage on Arches paper, 17 × 23 in. slide 6 through 8 — Romare Bearden #normanlewis #felrathhines #mertonsimpson #williammajors #romarebearden
SOLD Two Oils Summer Merton Simpson Oil on canvas 10” x 14”
Always honoring the profound impact of the #SpiralArtistsCollective In the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, artists, including #CharlesAlston, #EmmaAmos, #RomareBearden, #CalvinDouglass, #PerryFerguson, #ReginaldGammon, #FelrathHines, #AlvinHollingsworth, #NormanLewis, #EarlMiller, #WilliamMajors, #RichardMayhew, #MertonSimpson, #HaleWoodruff, and #JamesYeargans, converged in #Harlem, NY in the 1960s as the SpiralArtistsCollective. Their union was a response to the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in August 1963, which drew nearly a quarter of a million advocates for racial equality and marked a critical turning point in the American civil rights movement. The #Spiral Collective wasn't just about art; it was about examining their place in the changing landscape of American art, culture, and politics during a time of immense transformation. Today, we pay homage to 99 years old Richard Mayhew, the last living Spiral member, who carries the torch of their enduring legacy. ❣️ #SpiralCollective
#MertonSimpson 👑 🎨, born September 20th, 1928 was a Black abstract expressionist painter & African tribal art collector & dealer. Merton Simpson was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Between the ages of 6 & 11 he spent much of his time in & out of hospitals receiving treatment for diphtheria & rheumatic fever. During this time he started to doodle and sketch to pass the time. His interest in art grew and he began drawing & sketching in earnest. At the age of 13 Simpson was discovered by local artist William Halsey who took Simpson under his wing. For the next 4 years, Simpson learned the basics of painting and introduced him to the concept of abstract art. Simpson became the 1st African American to receive a prestigious 5-year fellowship from the Charleston Scientific and Cultural Education fund and left South Carolina in 1949 for New York City after he finished high school. Simpson enlisted in the Air Force in 1951. After 4 years in the service, Simpson went back to NYU to resume his work. In 1951 his work appeared in an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art and in 1954 his work was displayed in the Younger American Painters exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum. As his reputation grew his artwork made exhibitions at a number of galleries in New York City. The new environment had a clear and direct impact on his painting style which had been greatly shaped by the brush painters of the New York School. Simpson was a member of the Spiral Group, the purpose of Spiral was to gather African-American artists to discuss political & social issues & the Civil Rights Movement. The social & political movements of the decade in general & the Harlem Riot of 1964 which Simpson witnessed firsthand had a particular impact on his painting. The artist responded by creating the so-called "Confrontation" series of painting series that featured schematized black & white faces inter-meshed in an intense encounter. Simpson began collecting and dealing modern artists alongside the traditional indigenous works of art from Africa. Merton D. Simpson's artwork resides to this day in New York, Paris & numerous other venues. #Respectthatmansgreatness 🙌🏾 #blackdatabase ✊🏾
Prominently featured in "Black Aliveness," Merton Simpson’s “Confrontation II-A” is a striking and nuanced example of the artist’s meditation on race relations in the late 1960s – emerging from the artist’s “Confrontation” series. The series is characterized by paintings featuring silhouettes and gestures of black and white faces inter-meshed and gridlocked in a charged encounter. In this work, the profile of two menacing, abstracted faces clash and merge into one, framed in sable shadow. Like two sides of one coin, the contours of each face find counterparts in the other, from the grimacing downturned mouths to the beseeching glints in the figures’ eyes - forming a singular visage, mired in internal conflict. Playfully dubbed “Mr. Mean” by Bill Hodges, this striking, large-scale work holds a special place in the heart of our gallery. Bill Hodges recounts first coming across the work in the early 1980s, at Simpson’s annual birthday party housed in the artist’s Madison Avenue gallery location. Ultimately, “Confrontation II A” found a welcoming home at Bill Hodges Gallery after being showcased in a 2005 solo exhibition of the artist’s work. Over the years, this work’s place in the gallery’s collection has grown to represent not only the artistic genius and historic significance of Simpson’s career, but the genuine rapport and mutual respect that Simpson and Hodges shared. Merton Simpson Confrontation II-A, 1968 Oil on Canvas 50 x 60 in. #MertonSimpson #Painting #AbstractExpressionist #BlackArt #BlackArtist #BlackArtHistory
Phenomenal works of compositional genius by Romare Bearden, John Tarrell Scott, and Merton Simpson are photographed here; representative of the high caliber of artistic excellence featured in our current exhibition! Carefully curated from the gallery’s more than forty-year collection, “Black Aliveness” features powerful works that convey a breadth of artistic innovation and phenomenal storytelling – distinguishing the canon of Black Art as foundational to the contemporary art genre. Visit us this week! On view through August 25th! Visit us at 529 West 20th Street, 10th Floor. Link in bio. On view from left to right: Romare Bearden (1911 – 1988) "Introduction for a Blues Queen (Uptown at Savoy)," from "Jazz Series," 1979 Monoprint on Wove Paper 27 ⅞ x 37 ⅞ in. (70.8 x 89.9 cm) John Tarrell Scott (1940 – 2007) "Duet: Past and Future," 1985 Painted Metal and Wood 42 x 15 ½ x 13 in. (106.7 x 39.4 x 33 cm) Merton Simpson (1928 – 2013) "Confrontation II-A," 1968 Oil on Canvas 50 x 60 in. (127 x 152.4 cm) #BlackArt #ArtExhibition #RomareBearden #JohnTarrellScott #MertonSimpson #Paintings #BlackAliveness #FigurativeArt #AbstractExpressionist #ContemporaryArt #BlackArtist #NYCGallery #ChelseaGallery #AmericanArt
Happy Saturday! 🎨 We're continuing our mini series on Charleston artists, and today we're discussing the life and work of Merton D. Simpson. Born and raised in Charleston, Simpson's abstract expressionist works reflect the tensions of the 1950s and 60s, and drew inspiration from the African and Tribal art he collected, promoted, and loved. Check out our blog to learn more about his life, art, influences, and distinctive style.
Flashback... On a day like today, American painter Jacob Lawrence died. Photo: June 09, 2000. Jacob Lawrence (September 7, 1917 - June 9, 2000) was an African-American painter known for his portrayal of African-American life. As well as a painter, storyteller, and interpreter, he was an educator. Lawrence referred to his style as "dynamic cubism", though by his own account the primary influence was not so much French art as the shapes and colors of Harlem. In this image: Jacob Lawrence, “Forward Together,” silkscreen on paper, 25.5” x 40.125”, 1997. © 2018 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. #jacoblawrence #augustasavage #erniebarnes #almathomas #jackwhitten #juliemehretu #beauforddelaney #thorntondial #clementinehunter #robertcolescott #jamesvanderzee #mertonsimpson #elizabethcattlett #johnbiggers #henryossawa #charleypalmer #alfredconteh #edmonialewis #donaldlocke #hughiesmith #romarebearden #art #harlemrenaissance #fineartmichaelkilgore #blackartists #caam #contemporaryart #pablopicasso #kerryjamesmarshall #artist Subscribe for free: https://artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=400
AFRICAN FACES 45 : a new series of images dedicated to the “AFRICAN LOOKS “ of my collection Chokwe Ex Galleria Dalton Somare’ - ex collection Saul & Marsha Stanoff - ex Merton Simpson (inventory number 4070) - ex Peter Wengraf | The Arcade Gallery - ex collection Aguedo Hernandez Herrero - ex Bonhams Los Angeles Wood & Metal - 19 cm Photo courtesy - Gerolamo Vigorelli for all images with grey background - The three black&white images are the old original photos of Merton Simpson - The last image of the post with white background is the photo of the Bonhams catalogue #africanfaces #tribalart #tribalarts #artafricain #artsafricains #afrikanischekunst #primitiveart #artspremiers #africanart #africanmasks #africanmaskettes #masks #masques #masquesafricains #chokwe #tchokwe #chokweart #tchokweart #chokwemasks #tchokwemask #chokwemaskettes #tchokwemaskettes #daltonsomaré #galleriadaltonsomare #bonhams #bonhamsafricanart #thearcadegallery #mertonsimpson #peronicollection #peroniafricanart
Merton D. Simpson Title: Universal Orchestrated, 1982 Credit + Illustrations/Art + Content + Photography #mertonsimpson #artsy #artoftheday #artspotlight #artistsoninstagram #artlovers #artnerd #art #blackart365 #blackartistspace #boldart #blackartcurators #blackartgang #dopeblackart #dopeblackartist #abstractart #abstractexpressionism #instaart #instaartist #painter #painting #contemporaryart #art #arttherapy #visualart
RECKONING Protest, Defiance. Resilience. “African Americans have faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles in their pursuit of political and social equity and equality. Despite the difficulties, they have never given up in their quest for a fair and just world. The works of these artists not only speak to a particular event, a movement, or a theme, they also speak to us -the viewer_-as a call to action and a catalyst for change.” #DavidHammons #AmySherald #FahamuPecou #DeborahRoberts #PatrickMartinez #KihindeWiley #BisaButler #SpencerLewis #MertonSimpson @nmaahc
More from the stunning exhibit “Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.” at @nmaahc 1. Mothership (Capsule) (2009) by @jeffersonpinder. Made with wood from President #BarackObama's 2009 inaugural platform and ceiling tin from a gutted Baltimore house, the work’s name inspired by singer-songwriter #GeorgeClinton's stage prop, the Mothership. 2. Confrontation 28A (1966) and Confrontation 28AA (1966) by #MertonSimpson. "I'm painting what I think I see: ugly people fighting ugly people," Simpson said. "…I just think that it's an ugly thing. I want to paint it as that. And I think if people can see it, and frown upon it enough, it might make them think, 'Am I really a part of this? Then I should want to do something about it." 3. Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial (2001) by @alison_saar — maquette of the sculpture in Harlem, Tubman marching toward the American South like a locomotive. 4. The Man Nobody Killed (1986) by #DavidHammons pays homage to the life and protests around the death of #MichaelStewart, an artist and model who was arrested by the New York City Transit Police for writing graffiti on a subway station wall and brutally beaten to death. No officers were charged in his death. 5. Flower Memorial for Pee Chee (2017) by @patrick_martinez_studio. Illustrating the tragic effects of police brutality for three individuals: #JordanEdwards, #JoaquinaValencia, and #JustineRuszczyk. 6. Union of Saint and Venus (2012) by @victorekpuk — inspired by a rumored relationship between Pope Clement VIl and an enslaved woman #SimonettadaCollevecchio, resulting in the birth of #AlessandrodeMedici (the Duke of Florence and Penne). 7. Untitled, Billy Garcia and daughter Esmeralda sharing a tender moment at a gas station (2012) by #zunlee, from the Father Figure series. 8. Trapped (1965) by #AlvinCarlHollingsworth on the detrimental effect of #redlining on urban African American communities. 9. Tantra I (1994) by @barbara_chase_riboud -- could not take my eyes off this figure (polished bronze and silk). #nmaahc #reckoning #acreativedc #protestart #dcartscene #smithsonian #transplantedtatar #thingstodoindc #walkwithlocalsdc #onlyindc #igdc #dcmoms #longwalksdc
The painting seen on the TV show 'Good Times' and also on Marvin Gaye's I Want You album is called "Sugar Shack" and was created by Ernie Barnes, a former Baltimore Colts, New York Titans, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos football player. . . . #erniebarnes #jacoblawrence #beauforddelaney #thorntondial #clementinehunter #almathomas #robertcolescott #juliemehretu #donaldlocke #jamesvanderzee #elizabethcattlett #augustasavage #edmonialewis #alfredconteh #charleypalmer #henryossawa #jackwhitten #johnbiggers #hughiesmith #mertonsimpson #blackart #blacklivesmatter #fineart #poster #africanamericanmuseumdc
Crucifix – Probably Congo Christianity was first introduced to central Africa by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century, and its beliefs and symbols were gradually adopted by some kingdoms in the region over the next several hundred years. The products of this cultural fusion were often expressed in syncretic works that clearly combine the artistic traditions of both geographic spheres. This figure of the crucified Christ is carved fully in the round, nails piercing the hands and feet and a wooden halo attached with a metal spike. The body is portrayed in an emaciated state, torso ridged with exposed ribs, limbs frail and limp, wasted arms outstretched. The disproportionately large head is lightly upturned, the face fixing its gaze upward with a wondering, transcendent expression. Carved with an open mouth, the figure seems caught in mid-speech, addressing the world beyond, or simply enraptured with awe. Late 19th Century Wood, metal, pokerwork 13 1/2" H Provenance: Merton Simpson, New York City #crucifix #africanart #artafricain #tribalart #christianart #mertonsimpson #congoart #drcongo #religioussculpture
From my visit to @nmaahc In order: #elizabethcatlett @ruckerarts #mertonsimpson @kara_walker_official #bennyandrews @basquiatofficial @alison_saar @stephentowns #robertolugo @david_hammons_art Apologies that I had to crop some pieces to fit here. #blackhistory #blackart #usahistory #mixedmedia #blacksculpture #blackceramicist #linoleumprint #birdman #arthistory #artforsocialjustice #artforwhatis #washdcmuseums #thankyouartists #thankyouart
Cela se passe chez Lempertz, claquez vos tunes, cet objet en vaut la peine ! TÊTE DE RELIQUAIRE FANG Gabon 35,5 cm. de haut Provenance Sotheby's, Londres, 28-30 novembre 1983, lot 185 Possiblement Merton Simpson (1928-2013), New York Seymour Lazar, Palm Springs #lempertz #sothebys #mertonsimpson #collectionprivee #africancollector #africanart #marchedelart #fang #gabonart #architecture_best #luxuryfurniture #luxuryart #patrimoinemondial #artmarket
SUNDAYS AT 2 ARE BACK FOR 2023! Have you ever wondered what it takes to get professional object photography of the artwork in the Museum's collection? Join consultant Jamie Stukenberg for a look behind the scenes at his career photographing the work of noted artists, like Jasper Johns, as well as personal and museum collections across the country. Whether you're a photographer looking for technical tips, an artist looking for information about documenting your own work, or just a curious art consumer, this talk will help you see art in a whole new way. Sunday, January 15 at 2pm. As always... free. #gcma #yeahthatgreenville @stukiephoto #mertonsimpson #orangeburgmassacre
Merton Simpson was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1928. During a lengthy childhood illness, he passed the time sketching newspaper comics, igniting an interest that led him to work part-time as a high school student in a frame shop. Soon after, he was introduced to William Halsey, an influential modernist painter who secretly provided art lessons for Simpson at the Gibbes Gallery. Hard work and perseverance opened doors for Simpson, who exhibited his work and earned a fellowship that allowed him to study in New York at Cooper Union Art School. In NY, he continued to grow, studying and exhibiting work, collaborating with peers, and even beginning his lifelong passion for collecting African tribal art. This painting is one of three Simpson works added to the Museum's collection in thanks to the 2021 Art for Greenville Campaign. “Red Poem” 1956 Oil on canvas 25-1/4 X 35-1/8" #gcma #yeahthatgreenville #artforgreenville #mertonsimpson
Did I mention we are raffling off a painting this weekend. Stop by and enter to win. #mertonsimpson #annegoldthwaite #jessebardin
my catch from Annette von der Bey, No. 91, 2011 by @avdbey (oil on canvas - 60x60 cm) #contemporaryart #contemporarypainting #contemporary #abstractfiguration #art #annettevonderbey #avdbey #antropozän #seele #bosch #paradise #hell #oilpainting @avdbey @capsulesbook #hyronimusbosch #artcontemporain #artcolletion #triptychon #museoprado #africanart #guyonghena #sothebys #mertonsimpson #mertonsimpsongallery #parcoursdesmondes2018 #parcoursdesmondes #adrianschlag #africanartrocks @adrianschlag #kaka #cameroon #juxtaposition
Today we honor Merton Simpson (1928 – 2013), as he was born 94 years ago on this day in Charleston, South Carolina. After establishing himself as an artist and gallerist, Simpson became a member of the major art collective, Spiral Group, founded by fellow artists Romare Bearden, Norman Lewis, Al Hollingsworth, and Hale Woodruff. Simpson also had a strong interest in African art. He collected and sold the work of modern artists alongside traditional works; and became one of the most prominent dealers of African art of his time. Supporting creative expression was a core mission for Simpson, and his legacy as a pillar of black cultural production remains to this day. Simpson’s “Confrontation II A” is a striking and nuanced example of the artist’s meditation on race relations in the late 1960s – emerging from the artist’s “Confrontation” series. The series is characterized by paintings featuring silhouettes and gestures of black and white faces inter-meshed and gridlocked in a charged encounter. In the above work, the profile of two menacing, abstracted faces clash and merge into one, framed in sable shadow. Like two sides of one coin, the contours of each face find counterparts in the other, from the grimacing downturned mouths to the beseeching glints in the figures’ eyes - forming a singular visage, mired in internal conflict. Playfully dubbed “Mr. Mean” by Bill Hodges, this striking, large-scale work holds a special place in the heart of our gallery. Bill recounts first coming across the work in the early 1980s, at Simpson’s annual birthday party housed in the artist’s Madison Avenue gallery location. Ultimately, “Confrontation II A” found a welcomeing home at Bill Hodges Gallery after being showcased in a 2005 solo exhibition of the artist’s work. Over the years, this work’s place in the gallery’s collection has grown to represent not only the artistic genius and historic significance of Simpson’s career, but the genuine rapport and mutual respect that Simpson and Hodges shared. Merton Simpson Confrontation II-A, 1968 Oil on Canvas 50 x 60 in. #MertonSimpson #Painting #AbstractExpressionist #Birthday #BlackArt #BlackArtist #BlackArtHistory
#MertonSimpson 👑 🎨, born September 20th, 1928 was a Black abstract expressionist painter & African tribal art collector & dealer. Merton Simpson was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Between the ages of 6 & 11 he spent much of his time in & out of hospitals receiving treatment for diphtheria & rheumatic fever. During this time he started to doodle and sketch to pass the time. His interest in art grew and he began drawing & sketching in earnest. At the age of 13 Simpson was discovered by local artist William Halsey who took Simpson under his wing. For the next 4 years, Simpson learned the basics of painting and introduced him to the concept of abstract art. Simpson became the 1st African American to receive a prestigious 5-year fellowship from the Charleston Scientific and Cultural Education fund and left South Carolina in 1949 for New York City after he finished high school. Simpson enlisted in the Air Force in 1951. After 4 years in the service, Simpson went back to NYU to resume his work. In 1951 his work appeared in an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art and in 1954 his work was displayed in the Younger American Painters exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum. As his reputation grew his artwork made exhibitions at a number of galleries in New York City. The new environment had a clear and direct impact on his painting style which had been greatly shaped by the brush painters of the New York School. Simpson was a member of the Spiral Group, the purpose of Spiral was to gather African-American artists to discuss political & social issues & the Civil Rights Movement. The social & political movements of the decade in general & the Harlem Riot of 1964 which Simpson witnessed firsthand had a particular impact on his painting. The artist responded by creating the so-called "Confrontation" series of painting series that featured schematized black & white faces inter-meshed in an intense encounter. Simpson began collecting and dealing modern artists alongside the traditional indigenous works of art from Africa. Merton D. Simpson's artwork resides to this day in New York, Paris & numerous other venues. #Respectthatmansgreatness 🙌🏾 #blackdatabase ✊🏾
Always expanding, always evolving, Kipp Tarver is diving head first into the Artistic Realm of Surrealism. Defined by productions of artisans which resolve conditions of dream and reality into sublime simplicity of absolute reality, a super reality or surreality. Stay tuned on this platform to view creations by Your Favorite Narrator such as pictured here entitled “The People of The States” influenced by the artworks of these forebearers: #guillaumeapollinaire #andrebreton #robertdelaunay #soniadelaunay #francispicabia #georgesmalkine #haleaspaciowoodruff #charlesalston #normanlewis #felrathhines #richardmayhew #mertonsimpson #emmaamos #reginaldgammon #alvinhollingsworth #perryferguson #kanxuan #tarsiladoamaral #manray #lindalomahaftewa #remediosvaro #brassai #nuotamabodomo #bongibengu #claudecahun #tarikushiferaw #kuratewarurewiri #emilvanmoerkerken
Pende or Wongo or Chokwe Kwilu Small double Cup Ex Galerie Renaud Riley (ex Merton Simpson - ex Jean Pierre Laprugne - ex Mark Eglinton) Wood - 6,2 cm (H) & 7,3 cm (L) Photo courtesy Francesco Pachì #tribalart #artafricain #afrikanischekunst #africanart #africanminiatures #africanartminiatures #africancups #africanartcups #pende #wongo #chokwe #pendeart #wongoart #chokweart #pendeminiatures #wongominiatures #chokweminiatures #pendecups #wongocups #chokwecups #renaudriley #renaudrileygallery #galerierenaudriley #markeglinton #markeglintontribalart #mertonsimpson #mertonsimpsoncollection #jeanpierrelaprugne #peronicollection #peroniafricanart
Because a trusted curator friend is in town for the #fronttriennial opening, I told her it would be fine to bring her Director and two important museum patrons over to my warehouse space near downtown. Because 99% of what I sell is shipped out, my space is not always guest ready. I frantically installed some art over the past few days, to make the space look presentable enough. In the end, it was a great visit. Lots of good questions and smart conversation about the art on view, which is all I really want from visitors. For this visit, I hung works by #barbarajoneshogu , #kerryjamesmarshall , #elizabethcatlett , #mertonsimpson , #millerhorns , #clevelandbellow #johndowell , #lynetteyiadomboakye , #raymondsaunders , #jameslittle , #howardsmithartist #bobbysengstacke #anthonybarboza , #dindgamccannon , #dawoudbey , #korinewkirk , #emmaamos and other art I love and own by #africanamericanartists.
Pende - Probably a Galukoji Head Ex Alan Wheatley (ex Merton Simpson - ex Mark Eglinton) Wood & Fabric & Raffia - 8,5 cm Photo courtesy Alan Wheatley #tribalart #artafricain #afrikanischekunst #africanart #africanminiatures #africanartminiatures #africanmasks #africanmaskettes #africanminiaturemasks #pende #pendeart #pendeminiatures #pendemasks #pendemaskettes #pendeminiaturemasks #pendegalukoji #galukoji #galukojimasks #mertonsimpson #mertonsimpsonart #mertonsimpsoncollection #mertonsimpsongallery #alanwheatley #alanwheatleygallery #markeglinton #markeglintontribalart #peronicollection #peroniafricanart
Masterpiece Kulango (PLP-KUL-304) Ex Galerie Lance Entwistle (ex Merton Simpson - ex Allen Wardwell) Copper alloy - 9,5 cm A very old “piece of art” with a very modern shape at the same time It remembers the big & old wooden statues of this ethnic group It is with no doubts the best & most important Kulango bronze of all my collection : for sure also a perfect example of MicroMonumentality I take the occasion of this post to publicly thank my friend Eugenie Monney Duterque - the director of the Entwistle Gallery of Paris - that some years ago decided to propose this piece to me “as first” : she perfectly know my big love for these bronzes & for this reason decided to make this big favour to me Photo courtesy Francesco Pachì The photos of this post show the two sides of this beautiful bronze #tribalart #artafricain #afrikanischekunst #africanart #africanminiatures #africanartminiatures #africanbronzes #africanartbronzes #kulango #kulangoart #kulangominiatures #kulangobronzes #kulangofigures #kulangofigurines #mertonsimpson #mertonsimpsoncollection #mertonsimpsonart #mertonsimpsongallery #eugeniemonney #lanceentwistle #lanceentwistlegallery #allenwardwell #peronicollection #peroniafricanart
#catchoftheday - SPLENDEURS: CHEF S - D’OEUVRE DES ARTS D’AFRIQUE #africanartauction powered by @p_mfd & team- #africanart #africandesign #tribaldesign #tribalart #sothebysafricanart #AfricanArtRocks @sothebys #livingwithart #paris #neyyork #oceanicart #americas #senufo #mertonsimpson
Amy and Elliot Lawrence from Esquire Magazine in the 1960s. Art collectors for nearly 60 years with a passion for universal beauty 24 MAY - SOTHEBY’S NEW YORK ⚡️⚡️⚡️ #lawrencecollection #universalbeauty @sothebys #africanart #oceanicart #northamericanart #rhythmofform #jazzmusician #elliotlawrenceorchestra #thetonys #themajestic #centralparkwest #esquiremagazine #mertonsimpson #newyorkartcollector #jjklejman _ #stevebrown #seanmooney #bertrandgoy #louisperrois
Okenekene headdress - the fishing dragon between the waves/ the python behind the water spirit (below the umbrella)/the chameleon rides the oar, between the tendrils of the vine. #dclife #ijo #aplusafricanart #tribalartafrican #okenekene #ekine
Important guardian figure of the Fang-Mabea, Gabon/Cameroon, 19th century. SOLD – FOR CURRENT OFFERS PLEASE FOLLOW LINK IN OUR BIO. This magnificent sculpture was a centerpiece of the collection of the Austrian Art Nouveau artist Carl Otto Czeschka. It is likely to have held this top status in its later stations as well. Czeschka had acquired his few Africa pieces from or with the support of his friend Julius Konietzko, the founding father of our gallery. He in turn had good relations with the Hamburg trading family Umlauff from 1910 on. One of the most high-profile environments for non-European art at that time. Provenance: Carl-Otto Czeschka (1878-1960) Julius Konietzko (1886-1952) Merton D. Simpson (1928-2013) Thomas Alexander III, Saint Louis Forain & Hourdé, Paris, France Eduardo Uhart, Paris/Santiago, Roland de Montaigu, Paris/New York Corice & Armand Arman Didier Claes, Brussels, Published: African Arts, 1978, Arts d'Afrique Noire, 1979 Arts d'Afrique Noire, 1983 Perrois (Louis), "Byeri Fang-Sculptures d'ancestres en Afrique" The Arman Collection", The Museum for African Art, 9 October 1997-19 April 1998 "Didier Claes. XXVIIe Biennale des Antiquaires", Paris: 2014 Exhibited: New York, The Museum for African Art, 9 October 1997-19 April 1998 Paris: "Didier Claes. XXVIIe Biennale des Antiquaires", Grand Palais, 11-21 September 2014 . . . . . . . . . #Umlauff #Czeschka #JuliusKonietzko #brass #redwood #glasseyes #gabon #didierclaes #Armancollection #mertonsimpson #blackartists #cameroon #fangfigure #ancestorfigure #masterpiece #reliquary #guardian #artcollector #antiqueart #artsculpture #antiquedecor #artantiques
Merton Simpson (1928-2013) Untitled (Figurescape Series) 1978 oil on board 31 1/4 x 23 1/8 inches In addition to being an artist, Merton Simpson is to be remembered and credited for playing a major role in promoting African Sculpture as a primary art form. #fineartfriday #pegalston #pegalstonfinearts #mertonsimpson #mertonsimpsongallery #figures
Chokwe Ex Dalton Somare’ (ex Merton Simpson - ex Saul & Marsha Stanoff - ex Peter Wengraf | The Arcade Gallery - ex Aguedo Hernandez Herrero - ex Bonhams Los Angeles) Wood & Metal - 19 cm Photo courtesy - Gerolamo Vigorelli for the images with grey background - Bonhams Auction House for the images with white background - The black&white images are the original photos of Merton Simpson #tribalart #artafricain #afrikanischekunst #africanart #africanmasks #africanmaskettes #chokwe #chokweart #chokwemask #chokwemasks #chokwemaskettes #mertonsimpson #mertonsimpsonart #mertonsimpsoncollection #mertonsimpsongallery #thearcadegallery #arcadegallery #bonhams #bonhams1793 #bonhamsafricanart #bonhamslosangeles #daltonsomaré #daltonsomaremilano #peronicollection #peroniafricanart #masks #masques #masquesafricains #arteafricana
MY BEST KULANGO BRONZE (PLP-KUL-304) - A true Masterpiece & a perfect example of Micromonumentality - Ex Galerie Lance Entwistle (ex Merton Simpson - ex Allen Wardwell) - Copper alloy - 9,5 cm #tribalart #artafricain #afrikanischekunst #africanart #africanminiatures #africanartminiatures #africanbronzes #africanartbronzes #africanpendants #africanartpendants #africandivination #africanartdivination #africangoldweights #kulango #kulangoart #kulangominiatures #kulangobronzes #kulangofigures #kulangofigurines #kulangopendants #mertonsimpson #mertonsimpsoncollection #mertonsimpsonart #mertonsimpsongallery #eugeniemonney #lanceentwistle #lanceentwistlegallery #allenwardwell #peronicollection #peroniafricanart
Lots of new beautiful pieces. #wolfkahn #josephinecouper #horaceday #mertonsimpson #dorothyemmons
⚫️🖼🖤 art 💃🏻 🎭 🎻 ⬛️◼️◾️▪️✊🏿🎨 Kerry James Marshall. #kerryjamesmarshall #kerryjamesmarshallart #kerryjamesmarshallexhibit #kerryjamesmarshallmastry #kerryjamesmarshallmastryexhibit #artistimmersionprogram #kerryjamesmarshallscoutseries #kerryjamesmarshallpainting #kerryjamesmarshallmetbreuer #donaldlocke #jacoblawrence #augustasavage #edmonialewis #alfredconteh #charleypalmer #henryossawa #jackwhitten #johnbiggers #paint #painting #mertonsimpson #elizabethcattlett #juliemehretu #jamesvanderzee #robertcolescott #almathomas #erniebarnes #clementinehunter #thorntondial
Kerry James Marshall. #kerryjamesmarshall #kerryjamesmarshallart #kerryjamesmarshallexhibit #kerryjamesmarshallmastry #kerryjamesmarshallmastryexhibit #artistimmersionprogram #kerryjamesmarshallscoutseries #kerryjamesmarshallpainting #kerryjamesmarshallmetbreuer #donaldlocke #jacoblawrence #augustasavage #edmonialewis #alfredconteh #charleypalmer #henryossawa #jackwhitten #johnbiggers #paint #painting #mertonsimpson #elizabethcattlett #juliemehretu #jamesvanderzee #robertcolescott #almathomas #erniebarnes #clementinehunter #thorntondial
Merton Simpson was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1928. During a lengthy childhood illness, he passed the time sketching newspaper comics, igniting an interest that led him to work part-time as a high school student in a frame shop. Soon after, he was introduced to William Halsey, an influential modernist painter who secretly provided art lessons for Simpson at the Gibbes Gallery. Hard work and perseverance opened doors for Simpson, who exhibited his work and earned a fellowship that allowed him to study in New York at Cooper Union Art School. In NY, he continued to grow, studying and exhibiting work, collaborating with peers, and even beginning his lifelong passion for collecting African tribal art. This painting is one of three Simpson works added to the Museum's collection in 2021. Now on view in "Soul Deep: African American Masterworks." “Red Poem” 1956 Oil on canvas 25-1/4 X 35-1/8" #gcma #yeahthatgreenville #mertonsimpson #abex
A selection from the 2014 Allan Stone Sotheby's auction: a Mumuye figure from Nigeria (picture 1), a Dogon ladder from Mali (picture 2), and a Kongo Yombe nail power figure (picture 3) previously owned by Merton Simpson that sold for $1,805,000. #allanstonegallery #allanstone #allanstonecollection #mertonsimpson #dogon #yombe #mumuye
Of my art history friends, do I know anyone who has done any work on the Spiral group? I’m researching some for work and I’d love to pick someone’s brain re: some of the lesser known members like Calvin Douglas, James Yeargans, and Perry Ferguson. Felrath Hines artwork very much related #arthistory #modernism #spiral #romarebearden #abstractexpressionism #modernart #art #normanlewis #felrathhines #emmaamos #perryferguson #reginaldgammon #charlesalston #mertonsimpson #halewoodruff #earlmiller
Behind the Scenes | Have you ever wondered what it takes to get professional object photography of the artwork in the Museum's collection?⠀ ⠀ Jamie Stukenberg Photography, Rockford, IL, spent a week last spring documenting and archiving dozens of works from the GCMA collection. Here, he is capturing one of the Museum's nine "Confrontation" paintings by South Carolina artist Merton Simpson (1928-2013). ⠀ ⠀ This painting will be included in the exhibition "Soul Deep: African American Masterworks" when the Museum reopens on November 27. ⠀ ⠀ "Confrontation IV"⠀ 1966⠀ oil on canvas⠀ 40 X 30 1/8 inches⠀ ⠀ #gcma #yeahthatgreenville #jamiestukenbergphotography #mertonsimpson #confrontation
Last one available in the series “Universal Orchestration” #mertonsimpson #7
#MertonSimpson 👑 🎨, born September 20th, 1928 was a Black abstract expressionist painter & African tribal art collector & dealer. Merton Simpson was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Between the ages of 6 & 11 he spent much of his time in & out of hospitals receiving treatment for diphtheria & rheumatic fever. During this time he started to doodle and sketch to pass the time. His interest in art grew and he began drawing & sketching in earnest. At the age of 13 Simpson was discovered by local artist William Halsey who took Simpson under his wing. For the next 4 years, Simpson learned the basics of painting and introduced him to the concept of abstract art. Simpson became the 1st African American to receive a prestigious 5-year fellowship from the Charleston Scientific and Cultural Education fund and left South Carolina in 1949 for New York City after he finished high school. Simpson enlisted in the Air Force in 1951. After 4 years in the service, Simpson went back to NYU to resume his work. In 1951 his work appeared in an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art and in 1954 his work was displayed in the Younger American Painters exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum. As his reputation grew his artwork made exhibitions at a number of galleries in New York City. The new environment had a clear and direct impact on his painting style which had been greatly shaped by the brush painters of the New York School. Simpson was a member of the Spiral Group, the purpose of Spiral was to gather African-American artists to discuss political & social issues & the Civil Rights Movement. The social & political movements of the decade in general & the Harlem Riot of 1964 which Simpson witnessed firsthand had a particular impact on his painting. The artist responded by creating the so-called "Confrontation" series of painting series that featured schematized black & white faces inter-meshed in an intense encounter. Simpson began collecting and dealing modern artists alongside the traditional indigenous works of art from Africa. Merton D. Simpson's artwork resides to this day in New York, Paris & numerous other venues. #Respectthatmansgreatness✊🏾 #blackdatabase✊🏾
World Auction Record: Nuu-chah-nulth Mask, British Columbia, Canada, sold for a record $ 107,100 through Sotheby’s, New York, Sept 13 #worldrecord #nuuchahnulth #mask #nootka #vancouverisland #britishcolumbia #canada #faithdorianwrightcollection #heyefoundation #everettrassiga #mertonsimpson #nativeart #nativeamerican #artwork #masterpiece #artspremiers #ethnography #tribalart #design #designinspiration #sothebys #artappraiser #newyorkcity (www.artkhade.com) Repost @artkhade