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Ruth McKee
Brutalist Abstract

circa Mid 20th century

About the Item

A fine abstract expressionist oil painting by American artist Ruth McKee (1929-2012). McKee was a Philadelphia native, and is perhaps best known for her romantic and abstract creations of women, often depicted in beautiful, soft landscapes. Although many of her paintings appear as portraits, her subjects are purely a product of McKee's ideals and imagination, and aim to capture the body, spirit and nature of the female. "I think, more than in any other vocation, the artist is so aware of the human condition…Life is so short and we're all so fragile," said McKee. Some of that fragility is on display in McKee's art; a gentle atmosphere, the expert use of light, and even the expressions and visual language of her subjects and their surroundings. Together, the elements create a peaceful, otherworldly effect that is unmistakably Ruth McKee. Working primarily in oil on canvas, McKee has also experimented with acrylics, tiles, porcelain and other mediums, and continues to explore the "all-encompassing reason for life" that she finds through art. The first female recipient of a 4-year, senatorial scholarship to Philadelphia College of Art, McKee distinguished herself from the earliest days of her career. By 1967, she had been named Pennsylvania's "Female Artist of the Year" by Governor William Scranton, and was honored with an invitation by the Philadelphia Sketch Club to be its first female solo exhibitor. By the 1980's, Ruth McKee's work was in demand by some of the country's most prestigious collectors. Oil on canvas, monogrammed RMK lower right, and housed in a chrome lined wooden frame with a black velvet and gilt highlight. Dimensions: 22 in H x 28 in W, actual; 25.5 in H x 31.25 in W x 1 in D.
  • Creator:
    Ruth McKee (1929 - 2012, American)
  • Creation Year:
    circa Mid 20th century
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 25.5 in (64.77 cm)Width: 31.25 in (79.38 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Very good overall condition, with some minor chrome dents and scratches on the frame. Please contact us directly for a full condition report before purchasing.
  • Gallery Location:
    Milford, NH
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 91591stDibs: LU931311167122
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