Andy Warhol was the driving personality behind the 1960’s Pop Art movement. He established himself as a household name with his playful depictions of mundane objects, linking fine art to consumerism with his famous “Campbell’s Soup Cans”. His instantly–recognizable silkscreen prints of celebrities, most notably Marilyn Monroe, are highly collectible. His “Shot Sage Blue Marilyn” sold for $195 million in 2022, which is the highest price an American artist has ever sold at auction.
I chose Andy Warhol because he is a pop culture icon (and definitely not because I already had a can of Campbell’s soup in my pantry!).
Hannah Langford
Turkish, 1987 —
New Chapter, 2022 Painting
portraits of women, incorporating elements of nature in each piece.
Aykut Aydogdu
Aydogdu depicts surreal
Norma Rangel
American Gothic Painting,
1930
American Gothic is a 1930 painting by Grant Wood, it is a character study of a man and a woman portrayed in front of a home, American Gothic is one of the most famous American paintings of the 20th century, and has been widely parodied in American popular culture.
Wood was inspired to paint what is now known as the American Gothic House in Eldon, Iowa, along with “the kind of people he fancied should live in that house”. It depicts a farmer standing beside his daughter – often mistakenly assumed to be his wife.
Kyli Robertson & Myra Crandall
Frida Kahlo
Mexican, 1907 – 1954
The Frame, 1938
Oil on aluminum, framed in glass
In addition to Frida being an incredible artist whose works I appreciate. I also admire her passion and drive to acomplish her goals through all lifes challenges and to pivot and reset goals when circustmances beyond her control redirected her path in life. Love a Bad–A woman who gets it done!
Callie Mooney
Chuck Close
American, 1967 – 2005
Self–Portrait, 1997 Painting
I love the tiny abstract patterns seen up close in his portraits and how they magically bring his subjects to life with a realistic vibrancy when viewed from a distance.
Kathleen De Froy
Jackson Pollock
American, 1912 – 1956
Greyed Rainbow, 1953 Oil on Linen
I am drawn to Jackson Pollock’s art because of its untamed energy and spontaneity. His innovative approach of dripping and pouring paint onto the canvas broke new ground, capturing a bold, chaotic movement that is truly captivating.
Amy Williams
Georgia O’Keeffe
American, 1887 — 1986
Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1, 1932 Oil on Linen
Georgia O’Keeffe’s work inspires me because of her approach to an artistic practice. She focused her energy on capturing her surroundings and managed to create a body of work that has a clear through path. She leaned on the routine and rituals of creating work to maintain a practice that was prolific through to the later years of her life. It’s this kind of daily devotion to art that helps to keep a creative life.
Emily Schmitt
Mark Rothko
American, 1903 — 1970
Untitled (Red), 1968
Acrylic on paper, mounted on canvas
I chose Rothko as inspiration because his work is all about color, mood, and simplicity. His paintings aren’t busy with detail—they’re these big, beautiful fields of color that pull you in and make you feel something without needing to “say” anything directly.
Laura Huddleston
Yayoi Kusama
Japanese, 1929 –
With All My Love For The Tulips, 2001
Fiberglass, metal, plastic
Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist entranced by the idea of infinity and obsessed with polka-dots, spent much of her early career shocking the art world by expressing her authentic self through various installations. Kusama represents true individuality and explores the duality between fun and seriousness. Not only is Kusama a painter and installation artist, but she is also a poet and writer. In 2017, Kusama opened a museum in Tokyo, Japan, to house her work and display new exhibitions.
Hannah Chalker
Helen Frankenthaler
American, 1928 – 2011
Off White Square, 1973
Acrylic on canvas
Helen Frankenthaler, a color field painter, is identified with the use of fluid shapes, abstract masses, and lyrical gestures. Her style is notable in its emphasis on spontaneity, as Frankenthaler herself stated, “A really good picture looks as if it’s happened at once.”
Lauren Fallis
Johannes Vermeer
Dutch, 1632 – 1675
Girl with the pearl earring, 1665 Oil paint
Vermeer is an iconic 17th Century Dutch painter. The reason I chose Vermeer is that I find so inspiring his use of color, light and realistic depiction.
Margaret Eells
French, 1885 – 1979
Fashion Sketches, 1920’s
Lithographs in colours
Delaunay’s explorations of color interactions through shape and pattern, as well as her textile applications, are full of character and a playfulness that inspires me.
