Harold Frank

'Spring Bouquet' Paris, National Academy of Design, Chouinard, ASL, Laguna Beach

Circa 1975

An exuberant Post-Impressionist still life of spring flowers shown informally arranged in a creamware vase against a variegated ivory background. Signed Lower Right 'H. Frank' and painted circa 1975. After initially studying in Paris, Harold Frank attended the New York Art Students League, the National Academy of Design, Pratt Institute, Chouinard Art Institute and UCLA where he was a colleague of Richard Diebenkorn, who had a lasting influence on his work. Other artists who deeply affected his creative philosophy included Matisse, Rouault, Picasso and De Kooning. His one-man and group exhibition record is extensive and he was shown internationally in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Aubonne, Switzerland, as well as throughout the United States from the 1960's through the 80's. Though he did not seek recognition as his reason to create, major awards also came his way (among them the Adolph and Clara Obrig Award and the Sudam Silver Medal from the National Academy of Design; the National Watercolor Society's Grumbacher Award; the John Marin Memorial Award in the Watercolor U.S.A. Show and a First Prize from the Laguna Beach Museum of Art. His subject matter included pure abstracts, landscapes, still lifes and the male and female head and figure. As many artists have done before and after him, he explored variations of each subject, experimenting with changes in medium, technique, light and color. His remarkable paintings of the female head and form quickly developed into a vehicle for his abstract interpretations. Though his brushwork is quick and sure, he often labored over several pieces at the same time. This piece is accompanied with a first edition copy of 'Harold Frank: Abstract Expressionist 1921-1995' by Sandie Stern and published by Millenium Twelve Two (2001). Education: National Academy of Design, New York, 1936; Art Students League, New York, 1937; Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York; Chouinard Art Institute, Los Angeles; University of California, Los Angeles. Selected One-Man Exhibitions: Savage Gallery, London, England, 1960; Galerij Werking, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1960; Ardail-Castro Gallery, Paris, France, 1960; Pasadena Art Musuem, Pasadena, California, 1962; Ryder Gallery, Los Angeles, California, 1964; Ankrum Gallery, Los Angeles, California, 1964; Gallerie Chantepierre, Aubonne, Switzerland, 1966; Haggenmmaker Gallery, Beverly Hills, California, 1966; Irene Neuman Galleries (with Ernest Halpern), Los Angeles, California, 1968; Emerson Gallery, Encino, California, 1973; Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, California, 1977; Chester House Gallery, Chester, Vermont, 1977; L'Atelier Gallerie, Carmel, California, 1978; Upstairs Downstairs...

Signed lower right, 'Tom E. Lewis' (American, 1909-1979) and created circa 1935. Accompanied by old backing with label. A period Modernist still-life of flowers informally arranged...

‘Starting with a drawing of "real" flowers, I create layers of thinly veiled surfaces. They become abstracted through the process of multiple printings. The essence of flowers become...

Flowers in a vase. 2020, cardboard, oil, 70x50 cm