Even though I have a BA in art history, I am not terribly familiar with American artists. European art from medieval through 19th century, Japanese art of the 16th through 19th century, and early Chinese art -- those I can handle. So my list may be pretty short. And consist of American artist that I know.
Ten Favorite American Artists.
- Georgia O'Keefe. I'm sure she will appear on many lists. Because she was awesome.
- George Segal. This artist has a personal appeal to me. Back in my college days I often visited the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. It was free and fun. One day I wandered into a gallery in an ::cough:: altered state of mind ::cough::. I thought there was someone else already there, and it made me self-conscious. Eventually I looked around and discovered that the other *person* was actually one of Segal's life-size white plaster human sculpture. I felt embarassed for a moment, then decided that if the measure of a piece of art was the strength of its effect on the viewer, then this was a masterpiece.
- Edward Weston. Somewhere I have a book of his photographs. The pepper, below, was my introduction to him.
- Edward Hopper. Another painter who will appear on many lists.
- Chuck Close. It is not so much that I like his work as that one of his huge self-portraits also hung in the Walker back in the day, and it made an impression on me.
- Mark Rothko. Another one that needs a little background. Back when Younger Son was in middle school he did color study in art class that reminded me of Rothko's work.
- Alfred Steiglitz. Okay, he is not necessarily one of my favorites, although he did do wonderful work. But as I was perusing his photographs, the one below left caught my eye. Separated at birth?
