Sarkis Sarkisian was a painter and teacher, who spent most of his career in Detroit, Michigan, and later said: "Detroit has give me everything. I was an immigrant kid, who came here at 13". (Detroit News) He emigrated there with his Armenian family from Smyma, Turkey in 1922. From a young age, he showed art interest and talent. Sarkisian studied under John Wicker at the Wicker School of Fine Arts, and with John Carroll at the Art School of the Detroit Society of Arts & Crafts where Sarkisian was hired as an assistant instructor of drawing and design in 1933. He became a full instructor in 1934, and was named Director in 1947. In addition, he taught classes for the Birmingham Society of Women Painters 1945-54. As a teacher, "Sarkisian spelled out his own philosophy of painting: 'The only way to be an artist is to know you have to train yourself. Otherwise all you can do is imitate. Experience should come first. Then influence can be absorbed intelligently. Sure, Picasso based his Blue Period on El Greco. But Picasso translated what he picked up into his own way of thinking. That's why he's an innovator, not an imitator.' " (Detroit News) As a special influence, he gave special credit to John Wicker, one of his first teachers, who in turn had special admiration for Matisse and his handling of line, space, and patterns. Sarkis was juried into art exhibitions across the nation during his lifetime including the Annual Exhibition of Michigan Artists at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Annual Exhibitions of American Painters and Sculptors at the Art Institute of Chicago, First Annual Show of Contemporary Art at the Richmond Museum of Art, Society of Independent Artists, Paintings from 16 American Cities at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Scarab Club of Detroit, Biennial Exhibition of American Art at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Biennial Exhibitions of American Oil Paintings at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., National Exhibition of American Art at Rockefeller Center in New York, Annual Exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, among many others.
Modern Mid-Century Abstract Still Life. Colorful Abstracted Cream Pitcher.
By Sarkis Sarkisian
Located in Marco Island, FL
A wonderful little abstract gem by Sarkis Sarkisian entitled Still Life with Cream Pitcher. It is a vibrant and beautiful example of mid-century modern abstraction. Framed in a t...
Mixed Media, Oil, Board
Wind Flowers in a Tzu Chow Vase
By Ethelyn Cosby Stewart
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wind Flowers in a Tzu Chow Vase, 1933, oil on canvas board, signed and dated lower right, 20 x 16 inches, label verso with title and original price ($185.00), exhibited 44th Annual E...
Canvas, Oil, Board
$2,550
H 30.13 in W 36.07 in D 0.13 in
Colorful Modernist Still Life with Jug and Plant, Late 20th Century
By Ellis Hopkins
Located in Soquel, CA
Colorful Modernist Still Life with Jug and Plant by Ellis Hopkins (American, b. 1952). This bold still life depicts pieces of fruit resting on a table with a large green jug and po...
Oil, Board
$950
H 12 in W 15 in D 1.25 in
A Compelling, Fauvist 1940s Modern Still Life Painting, Green Pears
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Compelling 1940s Modern Fauvist Studio Still Life Painting of Green Pears by Notable Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). A wonderful Modernist still life, the paintin...
Oil, Board
$2,000
H 18.25 in W 21.75 in D 0.25 in
"Still Life with Fruits" Russian-American Modern Colorful Oil Painting on Board
By Ben Benn
Located in New York, NY
A strong modernist oil painting depicted in 1927 by Russian-American painter Ben Benn. With a highly recognizable modern style, fast brush stroke and expressive use of color, shape, ...
Oil, Board
"The Morning Paper"
By Elsa Warner
Located in San Francisco, CA
"The Morning Paper" 1949, a fine original tempera painting on board by listed artist Elsa Warner (1900-1988). Elsa Warner was born on June 6, 1900 in Illinois. After studying at the ...
Tempera, Board
$750
H 11.75 in W 11.25 in D 1 in
A Cheerful 1950s Mid-Century Modern Still Life of a Colorful Bouquet of Flowers
By Francis Chapin
Located in Chicago, IL
A Fabulous, 1950s Mid-Century Modern Still Life Painting of a Colorful Bouquet of Spring Flowers by Notable Chicago Artist, Francis Chapin (Am. 1899-1965). Completed in the vibrant,...
Oil, Canvas, Board
$1,875Sale Price|50% Off
H 20 in W 16 in D 1 in
“Bouquet in Porcelain Pitcher”
By Nicolai Cikovsky
Located in Southampton, NY
Oil on artist board painting of a bouquet in porcelain pitcher by the American artist Nicholai Cikovsky. Signed lower right. In good condition. In contemporary gold leaf frame 27 b...
Oil, Board
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
H 24.75 in W 20.75 in D 1.25 in
Mid Century Floral Still-Life in Oil on Canvas-Wrapped Illustration Board
Located in Soquel, CA
Mid Century Floral Still-Life in Oil on Canvas-Wrapped Illustration Board Classic mid century floral still-life with impasto in warm, autumn colors by Frances Christensen American, ...
Canvas, Oil, Illustration Board
$2,520Sale Price|20% Off
H 36 in W 30 in D 0.13 in
Colorful Modernist Still Life with Fruit and Water Jug
By Ellis Hopkins
Located in Soquel, CA
Colorful Modernist Still Life with Fruit and Water Jug by Ellis Hopkins (American, b. 1952). This bold still life depicts a bowl of fruit resting on a table with a large green jug....
Board, Oil
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in W 32 in
"Antique Toys" Priscilla Roberts, Still Life, Realistic, Doll, Magical Realist
Located in New York, NY
Priscilla Roberts Antique Toys Signed lower left; identified through gallery label affixed to backing Oil on board 20 x 24 inches Provenance Grand Centra...
Oil, Board
$3,700
H 12.5 in W 15.5 in
Oil Painting Still Life Fruit Bowl Polly Thayer Boston Modernist Woman Artist
Located in Surfside, FL
Polly Thayer Starr (1904-2006) Oil Painting Still Life Fruit Bowl Dimensions: Frame: 12.5" X 15.5", Image: 8.5" X 11.5" Polly Thayer (Starr) (1...
Oil, Board
$1,200
H 21 in W 24 in
A Refined, 1931 Modern Precisionist Still Life Painting by Harold Haydon
By Harold Haydon
Located in Chicago, IL
A refined, vibrant, early 1930s Precisionist still-life painting of a pitcher and squash by famed Chicago artist, Harold Haydon. Artwork size: 15 x 18 inches; framed size: 21 x 2...
Oil, Board, Canvas