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Bernard Arnest
1950s Framed Abstract Still Life Oil Painting, Blue Green Black Orange White

1959

About the Item

This vibrant and expressive 1959 oil on canvas painting by Bernard Arnest (1917–1986), titled Untitled (Fruit, Leaves, Spotted Cloth), presents an abstracted still life rich in form and color. The composition features stylized fruit and foliage arranged across a subtly textured purple-grey background, accented by a patterned cloth. Arnest’s modernist approach blurs the line between representation and abstraction, infusing everyday subject matter with rhythm and energy. The work is signed by the artist and professionally presented in a custom frame. Framed dimensions are 43" H x 36 ¾" W, with an image size of 40" H x 34" W. About the Artist: A Denver native, Bernard Arnest emerged as a key figure in 20th-century American modernism. He studied under influential teachers like Helen Perry at East High School and received early training at the Kirkland School of Art and under Frank Mechau, both pivotal in shaping Colorado’s art scene. Arnest went on to study at the Broadmoor Art Academy, where he trained with notable artists Boardman Robinson and Henry Varnum Poor. In 1940, Arnest was awarded the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in Painting, which led to a solo exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Art—the first of many. Throughout his career, his work was exhibited at top institutions, including the Whitney Museum, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Carnegie Museum, National Academy of Design, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Arnest spent much of his post-war career in New York and became a longtime artist with Kraushaar Galleries, which represented many icons of American art. From 1957 to 1982, he served as Professor and Chair of the Art Department at Colorado College, where he continued to influence and mentor generations of artists. Known for his richly layered compositions and modernist sensibility, Arnest’s work remains a compelling blend of abstraction, structure, and lyrical color—rooted in both personal vision and artistic legacy.
  • Creator:
    Bernard Arnest (1917 - 1986, American)
  • Creation Year:
    1959
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 43 in (109.22 cm)Width: 36.75 in (93.35 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Frame Included
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
    very good condition.
  • Gallery Location:
    Denver, CO
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 266261stDibs: LU27311363122

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