NEIL NAGY
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CHRISTIAN HOHMANN FINE ART 73-660 El Paseo Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 346-4243 phone (760) 346-4246 fax (877) 977-CHFA (2432) toll free e: email@christianhohmann.com w: www.christianhohmann.com
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www.christianhohmann.com COVER IMAGES FRONT OXIDE | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” BACK ANGEL 8 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22”
IMPRESSUM © Christian Hohmann Fine Art, Inc. 1st Edition 2010 Any reproduction or use of text or image material in part or in full is only allowed with the written consent of Christian Hohmann Fine Art, Inc. Measurements are approximate and may vary, please contact gallery if you require the exact size.
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NEIL NAGY
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OXIDE | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
NEIL NAGY - DRAWINGS It’s really all just pigment pushed around on paper. But Neil Nagy pushes that pigment with the consummate skill – now delicate, now impatient, now meditative, now explosive – of a born artist. You don’t have to be born an artist to make work this effective, but you do in order to make work this affecting. He looks, he draws. And in the process Nagy teases himself and you, going in and out of detail, going in and out of light and shadow, going from wandering line to palpable solid, going from passages of bright color to passages of deep black and sensuous gray. Nagy has cultivated his native skill, to be sure, and he cultivates it unceasingly. Thus, he can go from the fluid rendition of an immediately observed nude, the subject and treatment for which he is best known, to the “constructed” image of a clothed woman, his newest investigation. He can go from the facelessness of a body to the bodylessness of a face, from the landscape of a reclining torso to the still life of a seated presence, from the passive eros of a pin-up to the dynamic power of a dancer. Nagy touches upon and even combines popular tropes and artistic fancies, blurring identities and actions into descriptions of women that defy stereotypes by combining them. Finally, we don’t know where the lyricism of these images truly comes from – the bodies and attitudes of the subjects or the hand and mind of the artist? As long as we stay unsure, Neil Nagy keeps us rooted in his oblique accounts, pictures of people becoming moments and moments becoming people. Peter Frank, January 2011
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NEIL NAGY Born in the East Los Angeles Latino community of El Sereno, Neil came to appreciate the culture and art of Mexico. In later years, he traveled extensively in Mexico to drink in the colorful life of the people and the country and to study ancient Mayan civilizations. Several residencies in the plains of the Bahio and the central western coast added to this influence on his life and especially his art. Nagy gained exposure to the art of the Bay Area Figurative painters as an Art and Design student at San Jose State College near San Francisco, in the early 1960’s. The laid-back attitude of the period in California resulted in a lighter and more humanist interpretation of the severe existential Northern European style while being informed by the explosive Abstract Expressionist style. This art resounded with Neil’s background and interest and he knew that he would make painting his life. In 2006 Nagy was selected for an important “Bay Area Figurative” Exhibition where he showed alongside Diebenkorn, Park, Oliveira and others. As a figurative expressionist, the figure has always provided the spiritual path. For him there is something very powerful and personal facing that single human form. Nagy recognizes his debt to history from ancient Chinese and Mayan art through contemporary figurative art. Neil Nagy has held exhibitions internationally and has been included in a number of corporate and private collections.
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Study for GIMBAL | Charcoal on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
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GIMBAL | Oil on Canvas | 72” x 60”
BIOGRAPHY 1941 1952 1955 1959 1960 1961 1961 1965 1966 1967 1972 1976 1985 1988 1990 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 1999 2001 2003 2006 2006
Born Neil Frank Nagy in El Sereno, East Los Angeles to Frank and Doris Nagy Was encouraged by 5th grade teacher to draw and paint during academic lessons. Miss Lynn also taught Neil to use her letterpress printing machine. Attended La Habra High School and drifted through with major interests in football, cars and motorcycles. Continued to draw and paint on everything from club jackets to his bedroom walls. Was accepted to San Jose State College and majored in Industrial Design with minor in Art. Spent free time in San Francisco in the fringes of the hippie movement and discovering the new art of the Bay Area Figurative painters. Apprenticed at Design Studio on Fridays and spent the weekends haunting the museums and the North Beach galleries. Graduated with Honors at the top of his class. Was selected one of four superior graduating west coast seniors by the Industrial Design Society of America. Married Barbara Young-Fothergill. Marriage lasted 20 years. Raised 3 daughters, Deborah, Mary and Elizabeth who gave seven grandchildren. Moved to Seattle to work for Walter Darwin Teague, the largest design firm in the world at the time. Was assigned to run a satellite office inside The Boeing Company with Industrial Design responsibility for all 737 corporate customers. The job required extensive foreign travel and allowed access to art museums all over the world. He discovered and was influenced by the work of Rembrandt, Constable and Turner as well as Japanese art especially contemporary woodcuts. Returned to Southern California and became a partner in a start-up company which designed and produced airline freight handling equipment and passenger loading bridges. Founded Nagy Design, Inc. An industrial design consulting firm. Continued to attend life drawing workshops and studied advanced painting at Los Angeles Harbor College, El Camino College and Otis College. Began Extensive travels in Central Mexico, visiting such cities as Oaxaca, Mexico City, Zacatecas and Guanajuato. Was influenced by the Mayan and Olmec art and cultures. Studied at the Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende. Explored Belize by Jeep an visited several archeological sites. Explored Laguna Isabel and Rio Dulce Guatemala in a sailboat. Built a studio on his home in Palos Verdes First solo show at The Lydon Fine Art in Chigago. Installed a gas fired kiln on his Palos Verdes property. Workx on high fired stoneware sculpture Joined Left Bank Gallery in Laguna Beach and had several solo shows there. Worked on a series of “Works In Process� comprised of simultaneous drawing, painting and sculpture. The series was shown at solo exhibitions at Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro and the Portland Craft Museum in Oregon. Joined Learsi Gallery in Palm Desert Sold his interest in the design business to concentrate full time on his art Bought a home in Palm Springs California, but maintained his painting studio in San Pedro. Participated in a Bay Area Figurative retrospective at The John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis California. This seminal exhibition featured virtually every Bay Area Figurist from David Park forward Represention by The Hart Gallery in Palm Desert, CA, later becoming Christian Hohmann Fine Art.
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GRACE 2 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
ANGEL 5 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
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KYOTO 1 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
Other cultures have always had an impact on Nagy. Extensive travels were source of his inspiration from the moment he became an artist. In his sculpture we find clear reference to the ancient Latin American cultures and in many of his paintings there are similar influences visible. The “Asian Series” is part of his recent work, however the ties to Asia, especially Japan, go back to the 1960s when Neil Nagy traveled to the Far East on several occasions. Tokyo left Nagy deeply impressed. “The culture, the art, the people - everything was built on an incredible respect for each other and for nature. It was fascinating!” says Nagy about his experience in Japan. This series picks up on these past experiences combined with a more contemporary outlook.
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KYOTO 3 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
KYOTO 4 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
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KYOTO 5 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
KYOTO 2 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
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KYOTO 6 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22”
KYOTO 7 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22”
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KYOTO 9 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22”
KYOTO 8 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22”
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Study for DESERT GRACE | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 40” x 36” framed
Study for GRACE IN ROME | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22”
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CLIFF | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22”
SEASIDE | Acrylic on Paper | 30” x 22”
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GRACE ON A STOOL | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
Study for LANGDON | Mixed Media on Paper | 40” x 26” | 53” x 42” framed
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ANGEL 1 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
BETH | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
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ANN | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
BETH II | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22”
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DORA | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
ANGEL 4 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
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ARO | Mixed Media on Paper | 40” x 26”
TJ | Mixed Media on Paper | 27” x 19”
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ANGEL 6 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
ANGEL 7 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
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YASA 1 | Mixed Media on Paper | 44” x 30”
YASA II | Mixed Media on Paper | 44” x 30”
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CATHIE I | Mixed Media on Paper | 44” x 30”
Study for CHRISTY | Charcoal on Paper | 22” x 30”
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CATHIE III | Mixed Media on Paper | 44” x 30”
CATHIE IV | Mixed Media on Paper | 44” x 30”
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Study for MORONGO | Charcoal on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
MORONGO | Oil on Canvas | 60” x 48”
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Stduy for MORONGO II | Charcoal on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
GRACE | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
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PREMIUM | Oil on Canvas | 36” x 72”
Study for PREMIUM 1-III | Charcoal on Paper | 22” x 30” | 34” x 42” framed
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ANGEL 3 | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
Study for ODALISQUE II” | Charcoal on Paper | 22” x 30” | 34” x 42” framed
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Study for WINDOW LIGHT | Charcoal on Paper | 22” x 30” | 34” x 42” framed
WINDOW LIGHT | Oil on Canvas | 60” x 60”
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RAVEN | Mixed Media on Paper | 22” x 30” | 34” x 42” framed
MOLLY | Acrylic on Paper | 15” x 19”
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ABALONE COVE | Mixed Media on Paper | 24” x 20”
PORTUGESE BEND | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 42” x 34” framed
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BLACK JACKET | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 45” x 38” framed
CATHIE II | Mixed Media on Paper | 44” x 30”
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RED KIMONO | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 45” x 38” framed
RED KIMONO WITH BRANCH | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 45” x 38” framed
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PURPLE ROBE | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 45” x 38” framed
TALIA | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22” | 38” x 30” framed
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WHITE KIMONO | Mixed Media on Paper | 30” x 22”
JAPANESQUE V | Mixed Media on Paper | 10” x 8” | 21” x 17” framed
JAPANESQUE VI | Mixed Media on Paper | 10” x 8” | 21” x 17” framed
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JAPANESQUE I | Mixed Media on Paper | 10” x 8” | 21” x 17” framed
JAPANESQUE IV | Mixed Media on Paper | 10” x 8” | 21” x 17” framed
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JAPANESQUE II | Mixed Media on Paper | 10” x 8” | 21” x 17” framed
JAPANESQUE III | Mixed Media on Paper | 10” x 8” | 21” x 17” framed
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SMALL STUDIES During the work process Nagy often uses small studies to experiment with nuances within the composition or to finalize the color concept. These studies might be small in size but they are exceptional in impact. Nagy reduces the composition and color to the absolue necessary and thereby creates works that have a very strong impact. Many times he uses collage to intensify a concept as can be seen in Figure Study 12 for example, where the white area to the left is actually a piece of torn paper.
EDUCATOR | 8” x 7”
Figure Study 15 | 8” x 7”
ELITE | 8” x 7”
Figure Study 11 | 8” x 7”
SEATED FIGURE RED | 8” x 7”
ANGEL | 8” x 7”
WHITE SOCK | 8” x 7”
FIGURE WITH BLACK LEG | 8” x 7”
Study for GRACE RESTING | 8” x 7”
Figure Study 14 | 8” x 7”
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Figure Study 17| 10” x 8”
Figure Study 19 | 10” x 8”
Figure Study 13 | 10” x 7”
GRACE | 10” x 8”
Figure Study 16 | 10” x 8”
Small Study for GIMBAL | 10” x 8”
Figure Study 18 | 10” x 8”
Figure Study 12 | 10” x 7”
Figure Study 20 | 10” x 8”
GRACE SUMMER | 12” x 8”
HOT TREE | 11” x 8”
LANDSCAPE | 11” x 8”
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ARTISTS OF THE GALLERY PAINTING Mohamed Abla Deladier Almeida Michael Azgour Zivana Gojanovich Eberhard H체ckst채dt Thomas Jessen Denis Jully Manzur Kargar Bernd Kirschner Wiebke Kramer Gabriele Lockstaedt Gerd Lieder Heiner Meyer Armin Mueller-Stahl Neil Nagy Heinz Rabbow Thomas Ritter Peter Schettler Karin Voelker Edward Walton Wilcox Rimi Yang PHOTOGRAPHY Karin Szekessy Stefanie Schneider
ESTATES Bob Freimark Clemens Kindling David Schneuer Paul Wunderlich SCULPTURE Baerbel Dieckmann jd hansen John Helton Holger Lassen Siegfried Neuenhausen Stefan Reichmann Christopher Schulz Pierre Schumann Heinz Spilker FINE PRINTS Marc Chagall Corneille Xenia Hausner Rudolf Hausner Joan Miro Pablo Picasso and many more...
Christian and Kaarina Hohmann
ABOUT THE GALLERY CHRISTIAN HOHMANN | FINE ART represents over thirty years of lineage in the art world by the Hart/Hohmann family founded in Germany. Director Christian Hohmann’s parents Werner and Ursula opened their first gallery in 1976 in the cultural tourist destination of Walsrode, which quickly became a success attracting cosmopolitan visitors from all over the world. In 1998, his aunt Eva Hart ventured to the States and opened a gallery in Carmel by the Sea, a premiere address for the California fine art world. She introduced art collectors to the best European contemporary artists, a relatively untapped market in the area, and one in which was found a thriving market. Only two years later the Hart family opened another location in the heart of Chicago. Back in Germany, 19-year old Christian was honing his own career by studying Art History and Economy at the University of Trier. He also spent time working with acclaimed artist Prof. Rudolf Hausner, an important representative of the Viennese School of Fantastic Realism, to publish several important Fine Art Prints. Two years later he opened his first gallery in Hamburg at 21. In 1998 he partnered up with Thomas Levy, one of Germany’s premier art dealers and gallery owners, to open a gallery villa in Hamburg-Poeseldorf. The gallery highlighted artists such as Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, Francis Bacon, and Xenia Hausner and participated in art expos including Art Frankfurt and the prestigious Hamburg Photo Triennale. Three years later, Hohmann collaborated on a project gallery in Berlin-Mitte. In 2002 Eva Hart decided to open a flagship gallery in Palm Desert, CA. Located on the exclusive El Paseo Drive in the renowned playground for the Forbes 400, the gallery played host to visitors from all over the world looking for paradise
weather, perfect golf and tennis and world-class art. Christian joined his aunt as gallery director and went on to facilitate stellar exhibitions from modern classics like Joan Miro, Chagall, and Gabriele Muenter to contemporary artists such as Paul Wunderlich, Eberhard Hückstädt and Karin Voelker. In the summer of 2009, the Harts retired and Christian decided to carry on the family tradition solo with a new 5,000 square feet signature space, also located on El Paseo Drive. Today, Christian Hohmann Fine Art reflects this rich legacy in the art world, which began in Germany over 30 years ago, and now spans across the United States. With a longstanding tradition of presenting both European and national artists of the highest caliber to the discerning collector, the gallery’s strong figurative program is accentuated by diverse offerings in 20th century master works by both familiar and emerging names. The gallery features an exquisite selection of original paintings and sculpture by over 60 unique artists while also representing many artists’ estates and publishing books and catalogs of important work. With a true passion for art, educating the client, and a devotion to its artists, the gallery has garnered a world-class reputation as a sophisticated destination for art.
BOOKS00003 Neil Nagy | Works on Paper Š Hohmann Fine Art $19.80
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