ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Roland Reiss's late-career floral paintings arrive in Santa Monica

exhibition · 2026-04-26

The William Turner Gallery in Santa Monica is showcasing 'Roland Reiss: Unrepentant Beauty', featuring the late works of Roland Reiss (1929–2020), available for viewing until June 20, 2026. Renowned as a trailblazer in postwar American art, Reiss dedicated over sixty years to transforming the landscape of painting, encompassing abstraction, representation, sculptural pieces, and miniature settings. This exhibition highlights a collection of his striking flower paintings from his later years, which challenge conventional views on beauty and themes. Reiss regarded flowers as a medium for both formal and conceptual exploration, referring to the creative process as necessitating 'a leap of faith'.

Key facts

  • Exhibition 'Roland Reiss: Unrepentant Beauty' at William Turner Gallery, Santa Monica
  • On view through June 20, 2026
  • Roland Reiss lived 1929–2020
  • Reiss was a pioneering figure in postwar American art
  • His practice spanned abstraction, representation, sculptural works, and miniature environments
  • The exhibition focuses on late-career flower paintings
  • Reiss described painting flowers as requiring 'a leap of faith'
  • The works challenge assumptions about beauty and subject matter

Entities

Artists

  • Roland Reiss

Institutions

  • William Turner Gallery

Locations

  • Santa Monica
  • United States

Sources