Happy New Year!

To all our loyal followers and all the art lovers out there, have a safe, healthy and wonderful transition into the new year!

Enjoy this fun video:

New Works in the gallery!

Check out a few new pieces we have in the gallery:

Pony Song by James Moore (Bronze)

The Conversation by James Moore (Bronze)

The Messengers by Craig Kosak (Oil)

8.2 Seconds by Sandy Graves (Bronze)

Humble by Sandy Graves (Bronze)

Paysage Boullonais by Gerard Mortier (Oil)

Chemin de Promenade

The art of Fraud

When I first heard about Rosie Ruiz cheating in the Boston Marathon, I was pretty upset. What's interesting is that because of her fraudulent behavior, she became somewhat of a celebrity. The same thing has occurred in the art world with people like David Stein and Han Van Meegeren. Though the artists who created forgeries of greater painters were often put in jail, their names were suddenly in the spotlight. It seems any time there is scandal or controversy, it will attract attention to the person involved. Thomas Kinkade is the perfect example of this when his bad business dealings and somewhat shady behavior were pointed out in contrast to his supposedly divinely inspired landscapes. His works suddenly were in high demand after Kincade was sued. In the art world, fraud isn't limited to the artists either. In April of 2011, an art gallery owner, Alan Kass, was charged with selling phony artwork that he passed off as originals. It can't be helped that these people were thrown into the spotlight once the news of their cheating ways became apparent.


Perhaps the most renowned art forger is Elmyr de Hory from Hungary. Oddly enough, a great deal of the information that has been compiled about the artist came from another con artist, Clifford Irving. Elmyr was so successful as a swindler, because he was so good at copying the great artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Renoir and Modigliani. In a strange twist of fate, one of de Hory's art dealers swindled him out of a great deal of money when the two were traveling and selling de Hory's forgeries. Before an investigation was launched, Elmyr's paintings were bought by many prestigious museums and art galleries. Though he was never charged with forgery, de Hory spent two months in jail. Because it couldn't be proven that he created the forgeries in Spain where he was tried, he was charged with consorting with criminals and homosexuality instead. De Hory was one of the subjects of a documentary by Orson Wells. In addition, his name appears in the lyrics of songs, and his life is the subject of a play.

Elmyr de Hory -forgery of Modigliani

Elmyr de Hory -forgery of Matisse

David Stein was arrested several times for theft before he became successful in art forgeries.  He focused on copying the style of Marc Chagall, but he could produce works that looked like those of Picasso, Klee, Braque and Matisse as well. A book called Three Picassos before breakfast (Mémoirs of an Art Forger's wife by Anne Marie Stein as told to Georges Carpozi, Jr (Hawthorn Book Inc) was written by Stein's first wife. Because Stein offered his paintings at too low a price compared to the originals he copied, suspicion was aroused and an investigation ensued. He was living in New York at the time and spent time in jail there. After his prison term ended, he was deported to France where he spent more time in jail.

Book about Stein

Stein forgery of Chagall

Many forgers started out with their own style and attempted to have a successful career. In the case of Han Van Meegeren, his work was not well received by critics. Feeling slighted and in retaliation, he set out to copy the masters so exactly that people couldn't tell the difference. In one case, it took him six years to create what he felt was the perfect forgery. Van Meegren's art deals eventually sold one of his forgeries to a Nazi banker and art dealer, Alois Miedl in 1942. The painting was then sold to Hermann Goring. When Allied forces enter the scene, Goring hid his collection of artwork, but the Allied forces found all of the hidden works and among them what looked like an unknown Vermeer. An investigation was held, and Ven Meegeren ended up confessing that he had forged the piece. Van Meegeren was then put on trial. With the help of a chemical laboratory, it was discovered that the artist had used a plastic bonding agent in his work called Abertol that wasn't found in originals by Vermeer. Other inconsistencies were found, and the artists was sentenced to at least a year in jail. While waiting to be placed in jail, Van Meegeren was basically a free man, but his declining health kept him close to home. He diefd before ever serving time in jail.

The Supper at Emmaus by Han van Meegeren (1936) in the style of Vermeer

There are new and changing copyright laws that protect pieces of artwork now. Everything from music, books and paintings can be copyrighted, and the laws vary from country to country. However, controversy around forgeries still erupts today. It is generally not frowned upon to be inspired by other people's work, but direct copies leave a sour taste in most people's mouth. In early December of 2011, art forgery scandals rocked the New York art scene. Some of New York's top art dealers are under investigation by federal authorities for possibly selling forged paintings by many of the master painters. In an article by Theimproper, it was stated that, "The Knoedler gallery shut its doors on Wednesday and has been sued by a London collector who bought one of the allegedly forged works, “Untitled 1950” by Pollock, for $17 million in 2007.
The collector’s forensic analysis found that two paints in the work had not been invented until after Pollock’s death, the suit claims.
At least 15 other works brought to market by Rosales over a period of nearly two decades have been questioned by experts, according to the Times.
The paintings were allegedly bought by the unnamed collector in the 1950s directly from the artists.
The works were later passed on to the son of the original collector, who reportedly lives in Mexico and Switzerland and has insisted on remaining anonymous."

Possible forged Jackson Pollock

Lyudmila Agrich

 

Corner Cafe

Lyudmila Agrich was born in Russia and eventually settled down with her family in Odessa in the Ukraine near the Black Sea. As a child, she was encouraged by her parents to be creative. As a result, she spent several years in musical school and the school of fine arts for children. She was lucky to have had a taste of creativity so early. Lyudmila intuitively knew that moving in an artistic direction was what could bring her happiness and contentment. Before she started her career in art though, Lyudmila received her bachelor degree in Architecture and Fine Art. She worked in the architecture field both in the Ukraine and in the United States for a few years before she felt drawn to start painting. 

In 2001, Lyudmila quit architecture and became a professional artist. Painting has become her life, not just her career. She feels fulfilled and happy when she is painting. in the last few years, she has replaced her paint brush with a palette knife. This way she can create bolder, brighter and more powerful images of nature, flowers and people. Her style is considered to be expressionistic impressionism. Over the years, she has been looser with her application of paint, which results in what appears to be movement on the canvas. Her main focus is to capture intimate moments in ordinary life. No matter what she is painting, a landscape, or a little cafe in an old European town, she wants her paintings to speak in the language of human feelings. She tries to avoid creating pictures that are just thought of as merely pretty. Instead, she wants to communicate with people by evoking specific emotions and feelings in them. 

SmithKlein Gallery presents new works by Lyudmilla Agrich. Her latest works will be on display until the end of the month.  

Street Flower Shop

Jammin'

Dasies

Sunset Tango

Sunny Fall Day

City Rush

Sydney Lynch

Sydney Lynch

Sydney Lynch grew up with the curiosity of many young children. Her interest was captured by her grandmother's collection of costume jewelry, which she kept in an array of tiny boxes. Since then, she has collected many objects that have intrigued her over the years. From shells to rusted metal, these objects inspire Sydney's creative side. During college, Sydney was further inspired when she worked on a Navajo reservation. There she was surrounded by beautiful landscapes and the open sky, and she met silversmiths who gave her the idea to start making her own jewelry.

Sydney states, "Working with the materials is the most exciting part of the process for me. Simply put, I like making things. In my one of a kind pieces, I exercise my love of color, incorporating a wide range of colored stones in the designs. Another body of work focuses on sterling, sometimes oxidized, combined with high karat gold. Many of my designs are abstract, leaving the wearer open to finding their own personal, intuitive relationship with the piece."

SmithKlein Gallery carries a beautiful selection of jewelry by Sydney Lynch. Below are a few pieces from our collection:

Cuff

Earrings

Necklace

Pin

Earrings

Cuff

Earrings with Peridot

Earrings

Happy Thanksgiving!

SmithKlein Gallery would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I remember when I was young making turkeys in art class around Thanksgiving time that looked something like this:

There was also this one:

While there isn't a huge assortment of Thanksgiving art, I was able to find a few interesting depictions or interpretations of the holiday in art listed below. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving- Konstantin Rodko

Abstract Thanksgiving- Stushie

A Turkey In a Landscape - Peter Wenceslaus

I won't hurt you - Anonymous

Thanksgiving, John Currin

Women in Art

Self Portrait by Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun

There's no doubt that the female figure is appealing and alluring. Women have been the subject of countless paintings, sculptures and photographs throughout the years. Though women as subjects in art is fine, there are and have been outstanding women creating art as well. The National Museum of Women in the Arts is dedicated to recognizing the contribution of women artists around the world.

Throughout history, women have struggled to be recognized in the arts. During the 1960's and 1970's, as more feminists movements took center stage, several organizations involved with the feminist art movement formed, bringing more visibility and recognition to women artists. While some female artists rejected feminist analysis of their work, wanting instead to be associated with more general and genderless art movements, others were content to be associated with the feminist movement. Judy Chicago, for example, promoted feminist art. She states, "I believe in art that is connected to real human feeling, that extends itself beyond the limits of the art world to embrace all people who are striving for alternatives in an increasingly dehumanized world. I am trying to make art that relates to the deepest and most mythic concerns of human kind and I believe that, at this moment of history, feminism is humanism."

In the early 1990's, Rachel Whiteread became the first woman to win the prestigious Tate Gallery Turner prize. Since then, women have been much more acknowledged and accepted in the art community. Though women have less trouble succeeding in the art world today, it can still be a struggle for many, especially in other cultures, to have the same advantages that men have had in this field. Fortunately, more and more women are achieving a high level of success and making it as artists.
 

 SmithKlein Gallery has many fine artists who are women. Below are just a few of the artist we carry:

Ready to Rain by Jessica Garrett

Apollo of Dogs by Louise Peterson

Pin by Carolyn Morris Bach

Glass Vase by Lucy Bergamini

The Thinker by Pokey Park

Cuff by Sydney Lynch

The Shopper by Jeannine Young

Free Glass Perfume Bottle!

Perfume Bottle

SmithKlein Gallery will be giving away a free hand-blown glass blown perfume bottle to one of our facebook fans! To be entered in the drawing for the give-away, simply like our business page, and we will add you to the contestants. http://www.facebook.com/pages/SmithKlein-Gallery/168778979835864

A winner will be announced once we have 300 fans or on Janurary 1st, whichever comes first!

Horses in Art

Horse in Lascaux cave

Horses have been the subject of art renderings that date back to prehistoric times. Some of the most famous depictions of horses were found in the famous Lascaux caves and are estimated to be about 16,000 years old. From racehorses to workhorses, horses have been revered throughout history. In the past when horses were used as a means of transportation, these great creatures took soldiers into battle. As a result, artists felt compelled to capture the horses' majestic demeanor. Though they are less well represented today, horses are still considered a favorite subject of some artists.

Rouillard - Cheval a la Herse.

"Horse From The Temptation Of Saint Anthony" by Salvador Dali

Tang horse

SmithKlein Gallery has several artists who have created some beautiful sculptural horse pieces. A few are listed below:

Giuseppe Palumbo - Running Free

Lorri Acott-Flowler- Mare & Foal

Siri Hollander- Black Horse

Linda Raynolds- Friends

Jim Budish -Horse I

James Vilona - Modern Horse

Sandy Graves- Storm Cloud