Milton Avery Family Exhibition at Bruce Museum and March Avery Solo at Blum & Poe
From May 11 to September 1, 2019, the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut, presented a summer exhibition showcasing the artistry of Milton Avery, Sally Michel, and March Avery. Curated by Kenneth Silver and Stephanie Guyet, the display featured twelve paintings and sketches from each artist, highlighting the distinct Avery style. Milton, often referred to as the American Matisse, transitioned from more rudimentary figures to streamlined compositions, evident in works such as Gaspé Landscape (1942) and Dunes and Sea II (1960). Sally's contributions spanned from 1946 to 1988, including Man and Wife (c1950s). At 87, March's pieces ranged from 1967 to 2017, including The Dead Sea (2009). Simultaneously, Blum & Poe Gallery hosted a solo exhibition of March's work from June 27 to September 14, 2019.
Key facts
- The Bruce Museum exhibition ran from May 11 to September 1, 2019, in Greenwich, Connecticut.
- The show included works by Milton Avery, Sally Michel, and March Avery, curated by Kenneth Silver with Stephanie Guyet.
- Milton Avery was influenced by summers in Gloucester and met Sally Michel there in 1924, marrying in 1926.
- Sally Michel worked as an illustrator to support Milton, limiting her painting to summer vacations.
- March Avery had a concurrent solo exhibition at Blum & Poe Gallery in New York from June 27 to September 14, 2019.
- Milton Avery's style features vivid colors, flat planes, and simple shapes, avoiding total abstraction.
- Mark Rothko described Milton Avery as a great poet of sheer loveliness at his memorial service.
- The Avery family spent summers sketching in various locations, with Milton developing oils in New York winters.
Entities
Artists
- Milton Avery
- Sally Michel
- March Avery
- Adolf Gottlieb
- Mark Rothko
- Kenneth Silver
- Stephanie Guyet
- Robert Hobbs
- Hilton Kramer
- Donald Morris
- Florence Morris
Institutions
- Bruce Museum
- Blum & Poe Gallery
- Whitney Museum
- Neuberger Museum
- New York Times
Locations
- Greenwich
- Connecticut
- New York City
- New York
- Detroit
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Mexico
- Canada
- Europe
- Hartford
- Gloucester
- San Miguel de Allende
- Provincetown