Simó Busom Grau Art

A modernist coastal/dock scene by Edward Christiana. This painting is hand-signed "Edward Chrstiana '52" lower right. Exhibited: 1946 Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute; 9th Annual Exhibition 2004 Jameson Gallery, Portland, Maine; Edward Christiana (1912-1992) More about this artist: Edward Christiana was born in White Plains, New York in 1912. After high school the artist enrolled at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, graduating in 1933. After returning to the Mohawk Valley and obtaining work he enrolled in the School of Related Arts and Sciences at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. In 1940, noted WPA artist William Palmer came to MWPAI to establish the School of Art, forerunner of the current Pratt at MWPAI. Mr.Christiana became involved with the School almost immediately and studied from 1941 until 1943 under Mr. Palmer, at which point he became an instructor himself and remained in this capacity until 1982. It was apparent at a very early stage in the development of Ed Christiana as an artist that he had a tremendous facility in the difficult medium of watercolor. By 1945, he had exhibited with the American Watercolor Society and did so again in 1947, 1949, and 1950. Mr. Christiana was even awarded the coveted William Church Osborne Purchase Prize in 1949 and 1950. He had his first one-man show at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in 1946, and would be so honored twice more; in 1954, and culminating with a major retrospective in 1989. By 1949 he was elected to the American Watercolor Society. He was represented in a group show at the Kraushaar Galleries in New York in 1951 and in another major one-man show at the Albany Institute of History and Art in 1956 where he received a purchase prize in oil. Strangely, after all of his early success in watercolor, he abandoned the medium in the early 50's to concentrate on oil painting. For over two decades he painted primarily in oil ranging from cubist inspired studies to his Marsden Hartley-inspired paintings of Mount Katahdin in the 1970's. By the mid 70's he had returned to watercolor. He was once quoted as saying "those who are familiar with my old paintings will be aware, I am sure, that in fact, they were not so far removed from watercolor, my technique in oils deriving positively from the aqueous medium." In the 1970's his watercolor style changed from the more wet and spontaneous style of the 40's to a dryer, slightly more controlled style, where the artist would often paint on dry paper, without wetting it prior to the application of paint. In the early 80's he returned to a wetter style, even more spontaneous than his method in the 40's. This culminated in his abstract work of the late 80's inspired partly by John Marin. Also, like Marin, Christiana painted representational work alongside very abstract work during the same period. Fellow artist Easton Pribble once said of Ed Christiana "If there were to be an honorary title -Painter Laureate- of the Mohawk Valley, Edward Christiana would certainly be the prime qualifier for that distinction." Christiana is known for his landscape views of the Mohawk Valley, her wild natural beauty as well as the architectural beauty of her towns and cities. He has also painted extensively in the Adirondacks as well as New Hampshire, Vermont, and especially Maine, which can almost be considered the artist's second home. He loved to paint the pastures, valleys, rivers, and waterfalls of the area as well as children playing on the grounds of his beloved Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute and the neighborhoods surrounding it in Utica, New York. Edward Christiana painted almost right until his death in 1992. He was and still is a beloved man. No one I have talked to has had an unkind word to say about Ed Christiana, either as a teacher, artist, or friend. He was a prolific artist and was known to hand paint Christmas and Birthday cards...

A fantastic early painting from Kahn’s iconic barn series depicting Dr. Middleton’s property in West Brattleboro, VT. Here, Kahn turns a familiar rural motif into something hovering ...

With a studied hand, Sloan captures the human theater of a snow-covered Central Park filled with bundled-up New Yorkers, sledding, walking, chatting, and caring for children. The exp...

John Beerman, American (1958 - ) - Sunset, Year: 1994, Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil, Edition: CTP #3, Image Size: 18 x 30 inches, Size: 25.5 x 37 in. (64.7...

JOHN HAYMSON – "BROOKLYN BRIDGE" ⚜ Oil on Canvas ⚜ Hand Signed ⚜ Conservation Frame NEW YORK ICON IN VIVID DETAIL This atmospheric oil painting by John Haymson captures the enduring...

"Postcard from Paris" Satirical Lithograph Humorous Screen Print by Charles Bragg (American, 1931-2017). Two nude individuals pose in a room partially covered by a piece of drapery and a flower vase. The woman wears a variety of costume jewelry and a crown and appears posed, while the man stands behind an old-fashioned camera and smiles. The surroundings are highly colorful, with pink wallpaper, blue curtains, and a variety of different plants. Both figures look towards the viewer, potentially nodding to the satirical nature of the piece. Numbered as "Artists Proof IX" in bottom left corner. Signed "Charles Bragg" in bottom right corner. Frame size: 20.88" H x 27" W Image size: 10.25" H x 17" W Charles Bragg (American, 1931-2017) was a painter, sculptor, and illustrator of commentary on human behavior, based out of Los Angeles, California. Bragg often injected his sense of humor and appreciation of satire into his subjects, many of which are cartoonish and seem half human and half animal. He also depicted serious subjects, ones that become poignant commentaries on the human condition. Bragg was born in St. Louis Missouri in 1931. His parents were vaudeville performers, and he spent most of his young life traveling on tour with them. During his teenage years, he went to New York's High School of Music & Art in Harlem. At 18, he ran away with his high school sweetheart, fellow artist Jennie Tomao...

CHARLES LEVIER – UNTITLED STREET SCENE Oil on Board ⚜ Signed Lower Right ⚜ Original Gilt Frame A VIBRANT MIDCENTURY CITYSCAPE BY A MODERN MASTER This original oil on board by Charle...

Artist: Harold Altman (American, 1924-2003) Title: Sunday, Central Park Year: c. 1985 Medium: Color lithograph Edition: Numbered 56/285 in pencil Paper: Wove Image size: 17.5...

Artist: Itzchak Tarkay (1935-2012) Title: Afternoon Tea Year: Circa 2000 Medium: Silkscreen on wove paper Size: 26 x 31.5 inches Edition: 189/199, plus p...

Artist: Harold Altman (American, 1924-2003) Title: Three Chairs Year: 1978 Medium: Original color lithograph Edition: Numbered 61/185 in pencil Paper: ...

Limited edition giclée print, created with archival inks on canvas, with hand-applied brush textures that enhance the handcrafted quality of the artwork. - 70x90 cm + 5 cm from eac...

Mario Larrinaga was born in Baja California in 1895 and moved with his brother to Los Angeles in 1909. He had no formal training in art, but had natural talent that was noticed by local movie studios. He was hired by Universal Studios as a designer, art director and creator of background scenes. He produced some of the background effects for King Kong in 1933. After a career in set design and illustration he focused on painting for pleasure in California, Mexico and Hawaii. He belonged to local art clubs and exhibited his works often. This stylized modernist work was likely created around 1960. It is oil on wood panel and of a horizontal format, 18” x 36”. It portrays a procession of seemingly Hawaiian natives...