Richard Estes: Urban Landscapes
Richard Estes, born 1932 in Kewanee, Illinois, is regarded as one of the founders of the international photo-realist movement of the late 1960s. Having studied at the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago, he moved to New York City in 1956 and worked for the next ten years as a graphic artist for various magazine publishers and advertising agencies. By 1966 he had the financial resources to devote himself full time to painting and by 1971 to printmaking. Most of Estes’ paintings from the early 1960s are of city dwellers absorbed in everyday activities. From the late sixties Estes began to engage with the architecture of the city, with strong geometric views of storefronts, shopping malls, skyscrapers, offices and restaurants. These works, so typical of Estes’ practice, trapped the evanescent nature of reflections, which encapsulate these civic scenes.
Richard Estes, 560, Screenprint in colours, 1972 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 75. 50 x 70 cm (Arthur 113)
His Urban Landscapes series exemplifies his fascination with the ‘modern city’ as well as his fluency in printmaking. His highly polished technique of rendering a ‘photographic’ view through print was one he first mastered in 1971. In preparing an image for screenprinting, Estes follows a highly sophisticated process, creating templates in gouache and acrylic, which in turn are photographed. The photographed template is then used to create stencils employed in the laborious screenprinting process. The complexities of many of his images, which utilise a vast number of colours and tonal modulations make the proofing process extremely
time consuming but the result is one of acute observation and accuracy, exemplifying Estes’ mastery of the medium. Working from photographs has also allowed Estes to achieve an extra-sensory effect, producing highly organised compositions and views, which are meticulously planned before being printed. Estes’ work can be seen in major collections around the world, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, Museum of Modern Art, New York, Neue Galerie der Stadt Aachen, Ludwig Collection, Aachen, Germany; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.
Richard Estes, Arch, St. Louis,Screenprint in colours, 1972 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 75. 37.5 x 60 cm (Arthur 113)
Richard Estes, Cafeteria, Vatican, Screenprint in colours, 1981 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 250. 50 x 70 cm (Arthur 121)
Richard Estes, Chock Full o’Nuts, 57th Street, Screenprint in colours, 1979 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 100. 70 x 50 cm (Arthur 117)
Richard Estes, Danbury Tile, Screenprint in colours, 1972 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 75. 50 x 70 cm (Arthur 113)
Richard Estes, Flughafen, Screenprint in colours, 1981 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 250. 50 x 70 cm (Arthur 121)
Richard Estes, Holland Hotel, Screenprint in colours, 1980 Signed in gold pen and numbered from the edition of 100. 119 x 190 cm (Arthur 127)
Richard Estes, Lakewood Mall, Screenprint in colours, 1981 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 250. 50 x 70 cm (Arthur 123)
Richard Estes, Manhattan, Screenprint in colours, 1981 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 250. 50 x 70 cm (Arthur 121)
Richard Estes, Nass Linoleum, Screenprint in colours, 1972 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 75. 50 x 70 cm (Arthur 112)
Richard Estes, Oriental Cuisine, Screenprint in colours, 1972 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 75. 50 x 70 cm (Arthur 112)
Richard Estes, Qualicraft Shoes, Screenprint in colours, 1974 Signed in pencil and inscribed. An artist’s proof aside from the edition of 100. 90 x 125 cm (Arthur 115)
Richard Estes, Supermarket, San Francisco, Screenprint in colours, 1979 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 100. 70 x 50 cm (Arthur 119)
Richard Estes, Ten Doors , Screenprint in colours, 1972 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 250. 50 x 70 cm (Arthur 112)
Richard Estes, Venezia Murano, Screenprint in colours, 1972 Signed in pencil and numbered from the edition of 250. 70 x 50 cm (Arthur 112)
28th November - 23rd December 2016 Sims Reed Gallery 43a Duke Street St James’s London SW1Y 6DD The complete set of Urban Landscapes II & III are available, for more information please contact gallery@simsreed.com
t +44 (0)20 7930 5111 f +44 (0)207 925 0825 gallery@simsreed.com www.gallery.simsreed.com