Phoebe Hoban's Biography Reveals Alice Neel's Life of Struggle and Provocative Portraiture
In her 2010 biography, "Alice Neel: The Art of Not Sitting Pretty," Phoebe Hoban delves into the artist's challenging life and her bold approach to portraiture. Born in 1900, Neel received her education at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, drawing inspiration from Robert Henri. A significant retrospective at the Whitney Museum in 1974 showcased 58 of her portraits. Throughout her life, Neel endured personal hardships, including the loss of her first daughter and a difficult marriage to Carlos Enriquez. She was employed by the WPA from the mid-1930s until the early 1940s, residing in both Greenwich Village and Spanish Harlem. Critics had varied opinions on her art, with insights from notable figures like Harold Rosenberg and Valerie Peterson. Neel passed away in 1984, having achieved prominence in the 1960s.
Key facts
- Phoebe Hoban's biography "Alice Neel: The Art of Not Sitting Pretty" was published in December 2010 by St. Martin's Press.
- Alice Neel had a career retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1974, featuring 58 portraits.
- Neel trained at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women and was influenced by Robert Henri's 1923 book "The Art Spirit.".
- She married Cuban painter Carlos Enriquez in 1925 and spent time in Havana, aligning with social realism.
- Neel worked for the WPA's Easel Painting Project from the mid-1930s until the early 1940s.
- Her portrait of Frank O'Hara in 1960 was reproduced in ARTnews and marked a career milestone.
- Critics like Harold Rosenberg and Valerie Peterson had strong reactions to her provocative portraits.
- Neel's personal life included the loss of her first daughter, estrangement from her second, and turbulent relationships.
Entities
Artists
- Alice Neel
- Phoebe Hoban
- Robert Henri
- Carlos Enriquez
- Joseph Solman
- Milton Resnick
- Pat Pasloff
- Andy Warhol
- James Ensor
- Edvard Munch
- Frank O'Hara
- Irving Sandler
- Elke Solomon
- May Stevens
- Hartley Neel
- Richard Neel
- Joe Gould
- Audrey McMahon
- Ellie Poindexter
Institutions
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- Philadelphia School of Design for Women
- WPA's Easel Painting Project
- ARTnews
- St. Martin's Press
- Grupo Minorista
- Vanguardia movement
Locations
- Colwyn, PA
- Philadelphia
- New York
- United States
- Havana
- Cuba
- Greenwich Village
- Spanish Harlem