Lois Dickson's 2017 Studio School Exhibition and Modernist Painting Trajectory

Lois Dickson presented new work at the Studio School in New York City from June 12 to July 16, 2017. The exhibition followed two solo shows in 2016 at John Davis Gallery in Hudson, NY and the Painting Center in New York City. An essay by David Cohen, originally published by John Davis Gallery and the Painting Center, was republished by artcritical to accompany the Studio School presentation. Dickson, an artist in her 80s, creates large-scale paintings often exceeding six feet. Her work explores tensions between work and play, organic and geometric forms, and modernist traditions. Her compositions display dense, energetic brushwork that suggests depth while maintaining surface vitality. Dickson's paintings reference early and mid-20th century modernism, with connections to artists like Marsden Hartley, George Beckmann, Philip Guston, Arshile Gorky, Willem de Kooning, Stuart Davis, and Henri Matisse. Specific works mentioned include Tough Guy (2016), What Happened (2016), Over Easy (2015), Las Meninas in Procession (2015), Roundabout (2016), Glimpse (2016), Citrus Pull (2016), and Pas de Deux (2016). Her approach combines biomorphic abstraction with cubist spatial multiplicity, creating what Cohen describes as 'biomorphic cubism.' The paintings feature recurring motifs and demonstrate progression across sequences while maintaining Dickson's distinctive touch and palette. Her studio is located in Columbia County, NY.