Peter Blume Retrospective at Pennsylvania Academy Reveals Eclectic Modernist Journey
The exhibition 'Peter Blume: Nature and Metamorphosis' was showcased by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts from November 14, 2014, to April 12, 2015, at 118 North Broad Street in Philadelphia. This retrospective emphasized Blume's interactions with various 20th-century art movements, including Precisionism, Surrealism, Cubism, and Pop art. Blume (1906-1992) famously turned down an offer from André Breton to become a Surrealist. His significant pieces comprise 'New England Barn' (1926), 'The Eternal City' (1934-37), and 'Parade' (1928). His later works, like 'Flowering Stump' (1945-1968) and 'From the Metamorphosis' (1979), were marked by vivid colors and organic forms, influenced by WWII. The exhibition's catalogue featured essays by Sarah Vure, Samantha Baskind, and Robert Cozzolino.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Peter Blume: Nature and Metamorphosis' ran from November 14, 2014, to April 12, 2015.
- The retrospective was held at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia.
- Peter Blume (1906–1992) was an American artist who engaged with multiple 20th-century art movements.
- Blume declined an invitation from André Breton to join the Surrealists.
- Key works included 'New England Barn' (1926), 'Parade' (1928), and 'The Eternal City' (1934-37).
- World War II influenced Blume's experimentation with color and form.
- Later works like 'Flowering Stump' and 'From the Metamorphosis' featured bio-forms and vibrant hues.
- An exhibition catalogue included essays by Sarah Vure, Samantha Baskind, and Robert Cozzolino.
Entities
Artists
- Peter Blume
- Charles Sheeler
- Max Ernst
- André Breton
- Ivan Albright
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Sarah Vure
- Samantha Baskind
- Robert Cozzolino
Institutions
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
- artcritical
Locations
- Philadelphia
- United States
- Italy