Royal Academy's Diebenkorn Exhibition Divides Six Painters' Opinions

Between March 14 and June 7, 2015, the Royal Academy of Arts in London hosted a retrospective of Richard Diebenkorn, organized by Sarah C. Bancroft. The exhibition featured 20 early abstract works from 1950 to 1956, 25 figurative pieces created between 1956 and 1966, and 15 Ocean Park paintings produced from 1967 to 1988. Six artists—Michael Stubbs, DJ Simpson, Katrina Blannin, Claudia Carr, Christina Niederberger, and Dolly Thompsett—attended and shared their diverse opinions. While Stubbs and Simpson commended the Santa Monica period, Carr and others found fault with the cramped display and insufficient natural light. The figurative works received minimal acclaim, aside from Thompsett's fondness for Seawall (1957). Regardless of their differing perspectives, all six appreciated the experience, highlighting Diebenkorn's multifaceted influence.