David Zwirner mounts dual Alice Neel exhibitions exploring nudes and portraits
In May 2009, David Zwirner Gallery held two exhibitions featuring the works of Alice Neel after acquiring her estate from Robert Miller Gallery. One exhibition, 'Alice Neel: Nudes of the 1930s,' was hosted at Zwirner & Wirth and included intimate pieces from her emotional healing period, such as the 1933 artwork 'Nadya and Nona.' The main exhibition space displayed 'Alice Neel: Selected Works,' which featured portraits spanning from the late 1940s to early 1980s, including her son Hartley and a 1982 depiction of Annie Sprinkle. Neel (1900-1984) was a prominent American painter of the 20th century, recognized for her expressive use of color and psychological insight. Her life was marked by personal tragedies, including the loss of her first daughter in 1927. A significant survey was scheduled for spring 2010 at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
Key facts
- Two Alice Neel exhibitions ran concurrently in May-June 2009 at David Zwirner galleries in New York City.
- David Zwirner took over the Alice Neel Estate from Robert Miller Gallery prior to the exhibitions.
- 'Alice Neel: Nudes of the 1930s' was shown at Zwirner & Wirth, featuring works from a period following personal trauma.
- 'Alice Neel: Selected Works' at David Zwirner displayed portraits from the late 1940s to early 1980s.
- Neel's work was influenced by German Neuesachlichkeit painters George Grosz, Otto Dix, and Christian Schad.
- Neel experienced significant personal tragedy including the death of her daughter Santillana in 1927 and a nervous breakdown in 1930-1931.
- The 1930s exhibition included intimate works with her lover John Rothschild, such as 'Alice and John in the Bathroom' (1935).
- A major survey of Neel's work was scheduled for spring 2010 at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
Entities
Artists
- Alice Neel
- Carlos Enríquez
- George Grosz
- Otto Dix
- Christian Schad
- Nadya Olyanova
- John Rothschild
- Annie Sprinkle
- Hartley Neel
- Santillana Neel
- Isabetta Neel
Institutions
- David Zwirner
- Zwirner & Wirth
- Robert Miller Gallery
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
- Philadelphia General Hospital
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Cuba
- Havana
- Paris
- France
- Colwyn
- Pennsylvania
- Chester Springs