Friedel Dzubas's Hegelian Evolution Showcased in Dual 2015 New York Exhibitions
In the spring of 2015, two notable exhibitions in New York City highlighted the artistic journey of Friedel Dzubas. From April 1 to May 29, the Elkon Gallery hosted 'Friedel Dzubas: Paintings of the 1960s,' while the Loretta Howard Gallery featured 'Epic Abstraction: Friedel Dzubas in the 1970s' from April 9 to May 9. Born in Berlin in 1915, Dzubas fled Nazi Germany in 1939. Influenced by figures such as Clement Greenberg and Helen Frankenthaler, his work transitioned from vibrant gestural stains in the 1950s to more serene forms in the 1960s. The 1970s marked a fusion of these styles, exemplified in large works like 'Procession' (1975) and 'Chenango' (1973). Dzubas passed away in 1994, leaving behind a remarkable legacy.
Key facts
- Friedel Dzubas was born in Berlin in 1915.
- He fled Germany in 1939 and eventually moved to New York after World War II.
- Dzubas befriended critic Clement Greenberg in 1948 and met Helen Frankenthaler in 1951.
- His artistic evolution is framed as a Hegelian dialectic: thesis (1950s), antithesis (1960s), synthesis (1970s-1994).
- Two exhibitions ran concurrently in New York in spring 2015: at The Elkon Gallery (April 1-May 29) and Loretta Howard Gallery (April 9-May 9).
- In the 1960s, Dzubas shifted to fewer, larger forms on primed canvases, as noted by Barbara Rose.
- His signature 1970s style featured 'feathery' color bands on large canvases, like 'Procession' (1975), which is about 10 by 25 feet.
- Art historian Patricia Lewy Gidwitz is working on a book about Dzubas and provided text for the exhibition.
Entities
Artists
- Friedel Dzubas
- Helen Frankenthaler
- Clement Greenberg
- Barbara Rose
- Patricia Lewy Gidwitz
- Wes Frantz
- Adolf Hitler
Institutions
- The Elkon Gallery, Inc.
- Loretta Howard Gallery
- Ziff-Davis Publishing
- Partisan Review
- Boston bank
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Berlin
- Germany
- Chicago
- Manhattan
- Boston