John Hardy was born in Tours, France, on March 23, 1923, to Charles Crum Hardy and the former Jacqueline Gadois. He lived in Brooklyn from age 1 to 6, when his family relocated to suburban Long Island. His mother died when he was 8, after which he was sent to live with another family in Roanoke, Va., while his father remained in New York. As a teenager, he lived with an aunt in Guilford, N.C He spent his childhood in various parts of the country including New York, Virginia, and North Carolina, and later lived in Florida and Georgia. His travels outside the USA include Europe, Greece, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, the Caribbean Islands, Panama, and Mexico.
In 1942, he married Betty Blackman, with whom he lived for 26 years and raised four children. He served in the Army from 1940 to 1945, spending 16 months in Europe during World War II. At age 52, he moved to New York City with Page Ogden, to whom he was married for 12 years. He subsequently lived with Naomi Lionni, who died in 1992.
He taught drawing and painting from 1958 to 1981, first at the Atlanta College of Art, and subsequently at the College of Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology and at New York University. A figurative painter known especially for his portraits, cityscapes, and seascapes, his work captured the depth and complexity of his subjects with empathy, humor, and, in some cases, astute social commentary.
According to Gail Levin, an art historian, professor, and author specializing in the art of the 20th and 21st centuries, “Like those of [Edward] Hopper and [Reginald] Marsh, Hardy’s paintings often imply multi-layered meanings, enabling him to distill the essence of a cultural moment. . . . He selects and manipulates with an uncanny power, achieving ironic realism.”
John C. Hardy, an artist and teacher who lived in SoHo and Springs, died of complications from a stroke at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City on Oct. 10 2014 in the company of Joan Semmel, his companion for the past 21 years. He was 91.
Page Ogden and The Kitchen
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
This oil painting is a portrait of artist Page Ogden capturing a moment in time when she was sitting at a table reading a book by American artist John Hardy.
Canvas, Oil
Return of Time #5
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Return of Time #5 John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 1990 Oil on Canvas, signed lower right Size: 35 x 105 in. (88.9 x 266.7 cm)
Oil
$18,000
Run
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Run John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 1996 Oil on Canvas, signed Size: 36 x 66 in. (91.44 x 167.64 cm)
Oil
LD5-378
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
LD5-378 John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Oil on Canvas Image Size: 30 x 40 inches Size: 35 x 45 in. (88.9 x 114.3 cm)
Oil
Target
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Target John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Oil on Canvas, signed lower left Size: 68 x 102.5 in. (172.72 x 260.35 cm)
Oil
Soldiers and Rabbits from the Waiting with Walls series
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Soldiers and Rabbits from the Waiting with Walls series John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 1971 Oil on Canvas, signed lower left Size: 59 x 60 in. (149...
Oil
Return of Time #14, Large Beach Seascape Painting by John Hardy
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Return of Time #14 John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 1991 Oil on Canvas, signed lower right Size: 14.75 x 70 in. (38 x 177.8 cm)
Oil
Disconnect
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Disconnect John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 1998 Oil on Wood, signed Size: 24 x 18 in. (60.96 x 45.72 cm)
Oil
Edge
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Edge John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 1997 Oil on Wood, signed Size: 24 x 18 in. (60.96 x 45.72 cm)
Oil
Zengeist (Mask)
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Zengeist (Mask) John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 1998 Oil on Wood, signed Size: 48 x 32 in. (121.92 x 81.28 cm) Reference: Bool 405
Oil, Wood
Racing the Moon
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Racing the Moon John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 1991 Oil on Canvas, signed Size: 10 x 34 in. (25.4 x 86.36 cm)
Oil
Pedestrian Bridge Overpass
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Pedestrian Bridge Overpass John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 2008 Oil on Canvas, signed lower right Size: 53 x 64 in. (134.62 x 162.56 cm)
Oil
People on Display
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
People on Display John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Oil on Canvas Image Size: 30 x 40 inches Size: Size: 36 x 46 in. (91.44 x 116.84 cm)
Oil
Blessing, Nude Oil Painting on Wood by John Hardy
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Blessing John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 1997 Oil on Wood, signed Size: 24 x 18 in. (60.96 x 45.72 cm)
Wood, Oil
Deep Blue
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Deep Blue John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 1995 Oil on Board, signed verso Size: 18 x 24 in. (45.72 x 60.96 cm)
Oil
Holy War
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Holy War John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Oil on Canvas Image Size: 30 x 40 inches Size: 35 x 45 in. (88.9 x 114.3 cm)
Oil
New Holy Wars
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
New Holy Wars John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Oil on Canvas Image Size: 36 x 59 inches Size: 40.75 x 64 in. (103.51 x 162.56 cm)
Oil
The Morning After
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
The Morning After John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 2007 Oil on Canvas, signed Size: 48 x 60 in. (121.92 x 152.4 cm)
Oil
Price Upon Request
Day at the Dunes
By John Hardy (Artist)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Day at the Dunes John Hardy, American (1923–2014) Date: 1975 Acrylic on Canvas, signed verso Size: 61 x 97.25 inches
Oil
$2,080
H 36 in W 24 in D 1 in
Butterflies, Oil on Canvas, Green, Red by Contemporary Indian Artist "In Stock"
By Murali Nagapuzha
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Murali Nagapuzha - Butterflies - 36 x 24 inches (unframed size) Oil on Canvas, 2021 . Can be sent framed or unframed as per requirement About Murali...
Canvas, Oil
$2,080
H 24 in W 36 in D 1 in
Untitled, Oil on Canvas, Green, Red by Contemporary Indian Artist "In Stock"
By Murali Nagapuzha
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Murali Nagapuzha - Untitled - 36 x 24 inches (unframed size) Oil on Canvas, 2021 . Can be sent framed or unframed as per requirement About Murali Na...
Canvas, Oil
$4,500
H 48 in W 36 in D 1.5 in
“Pool Days” Contemporary Blue and Green Toned Tropical Landscape Painting
Located in Houston, TX
Contemporary naturalistic painting by Texas-based artist Jennifer Lively. The work features a clear, blue pool next to a palm tree. A small white boat can be seen sailing in the back...
Canvas, Oil
$2,300Sale Price|50% Off
H 24 in W 28 in D 2 in
God Bless Our Home, Social Realist Scene, Figurative Americana Interior Scene
Located in Doylestown, PA
"God Bless Our Home" is an interior and figurative scene of a woman sitting on her couch in serious and proper expression. The Americana style paint...
Canvas, Oil
Dancing Light 4551
By Kate Salenfriend
Located in Napa, CA
Surrounded by artistic inspiration from a very early age, Kate Salenfriend learned most of her technical skills from her great-grandfather, Stewart Robertson, the registered Californ...
Gold Leaf
$36,099Sale Price|25% Off
H 41 in W 53 in D 1.75 in
Large Painting of Classic New York City in Rain with Figures by British Artist
By Angela Wakefield
Located in Preston, GB
Large Original Painting of a Classic 1990's Busy New York City Scene in the Rain, with Yellow Taxis, Cars and Figures, by British Urban Landscape Artist, Angela Wakefield. This is a ...
Gesso, Acrylic, Oil, Mixed Media, Cotton Canvas, Paint, Linen, Canvas
Bay
By Giacomo Modolo
Located in Torino, IT
Giacomo Modolo (1988), after graduating at the Art School of Vicenza, obtained his bachelor degree in Graphic Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice on February 2011 and, at the ...
Oil
$464Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.45 in W 11.82 in D 0.79 in
Snow. 2010, oil on canvas, 24x30 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Snow. 2010, oil on canvas, 24x30 cm Landscape with railroad bridge Kristine Kvitka (1983) Kristine Kvitka is a Latvian artist, born in Riga in 1983, ...
Canvas, Oil
$950
H 11 in W 7.5 in
'Fun on the Beach' Contemporary Colourful beach scene with figures, sea & water
Located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
'Fun on the Beach' is a fabulously warm and inviting piece that would bring the beach inside your own home! Losada Romeu paints with such delicate hues bringing together colours that...
Oil, Panel
$1,312Sale Price|25% Off
H 38 in W 48 in D 3 in
Vintage Sausalito Landscape -- Golden Gate
Located in Soquel, CA
Gorgeous Sausalito and the Golden Gate Bridge landscape oil painting by Calderon (Spain, 20th Century). Presented in a giltwood frame. Signed "Calderon" lower right. Image size, 30"H...
Canvas, Oil
$18,500
H 20 in W 18 in
"Old Shoemaker" Ashcan 20th Century Modernism 1924 California WPA Realism Worker
By Otis Oldfield
Located in New York, NY
"Old Shoemaker" Ashcan 20th Century Modernism 1924 California WPA Realism Worker. Signed “Otis Oldfield” lower left. 14 x 12 inches. Exhibited: Galerie des Beaux Arts, San Francisco, CA, 1925 Provenance: Estate of the Artist Born in Sacramento, CA on July 3, 1890, Otis Oldfield left high school at age 16 to work in a local print shop. In 1909 he arrived in San Francisco and enrolled at the Best Art School. After working for two years as a bellhop at the Argonaut Hotel and as a hat check boy at the Cliff House, he had saved enough money for further studies in Paris. In 1911 he sailed for France and enrolled at Académie Julian. Caught up in the activities of wartime Paris, he was an apprentice for a book...
Canvas, Oil
$7,260
H 35.44 in W 70.87 in D 1.58 in
Carol Moreno, Contemporary Landscape Jungle Green Landscape Diptych, 2025
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The total size of the two works is 90x180 cm. At Escat Gallery we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of trust and professionalism for our collectors. Every artwork i...
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil