Wes Hempel Art
American, b. 1953
The twelve paintings in the exhibition are imaginary film stills based on on a Science Fiction screenplay, titled Regression, that was supposedly developed in the 1950s. The film was never made and, to Hempel’s knowledge, none of the script survived.
As Hempel tells the story, a crew of astronauts travel to an exoplanet with a tropical Earth-like atmosphere and immediately get separated from each other when they set out to explore. Isolated, they start to rapidly grow younger. Wading in the water seems to slow the regression process. It is later revealed that the planet is a sentient life form that is purposefully regressing them as it can only communicate with minds that are free of dishonesty and aggression. By returning the astronauts to innocence, the planet hopes to establish contact. Constructed from memory, these paintings are Hempel’s musings on what the film might have looked like. There is a playfulness and and absurdity to the paintings. A spaceship hangs over the Hollywood sign next to two dramatically singular palm trees. The figures pose like 1950s film stars in the water while ships loom over their heads and steep cliffs rise behind them. Painted at an intimate scale ranging from 16x16 inches to 20x30 inches, the paintings draw on Hempel’s well-known practice of commenting on assumed narratives of masculinity in art and popular culture and the lack of representation of gay men.
The figures are shirtless and seemingly unaware of the viewer but on a mission. Expressions of concern cross some of their faces while others are lost in thought - a surreal battalion of statuesque young men. Hempel is turning the pop culture trope of half dressed beautiful women on its head and depicting beautiful men in these paintings. With the lost film script as the framework, Hempel uses his immense technical skill to deftly recontextualize the male figure.
Wes Hempel’s paintings forge a provocative dialogue between past and present - asking us to consider the ways in which the dominant narratives depicted in art and pop culture have presented a single viewpoint and lacked significantly in representation.
Wes Hempel was born in El Monte, CA, in 1953. He received his BA from Cal State Northridge in 1985 and his MA from UC Boulder in 1988. He has exhibited extensively throughout the US since 1987 and his paintings are included in numerous private and public collections including the Denver Art Museum, Microsoft Art Collection, and the New Britain Museum of American Art (CT), among others. He lives and work in Colorado.to
2
36
36
34
Hidden Cove
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NYC & LA --A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the validity of the canon, paintings of the old masters on the walls of museums like the Met, the Louvre, Rijks museum still have a certain cache. They're revered not just for their technique but because they enshrine our collective past experience. Of course, it's a selected past that gets validated. Conspicuously absent to me as a gay man...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Curious Gull
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the validity of the canon, paintings of the old masters on the walls of museums like the Met, the Louvre, Rijks museum still have a certain cache. They're revered not just for their technique but because they enshrine our collective past experience. Of course, it's a selected past that gets validated. Conspicuously absent to me as a gay man...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
A New Way Forward
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Untitled Film Still (Twin Pillars)
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
The twelve paintings in the exhibition are imaginary film stills based on on a Science Fiction screenplay, titled Regression, that was supposedly developed in the 1950s. The film wa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Santa Monica Beach, 11AM
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Private Island, Mid Day Swim
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Octopus Tattoo
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the validity of the canon, paintings of the old masters on the walls of museums like the Met, the Louvre, Rijks museum still have a certain cache. They're revered not just for their technique but because they enshrine our collective past experience. Of course, it's a selected past that gets validated. Conspicuously absent to me as a gay man...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
String Theory
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$9,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Untitled Film Still (Open Shirt)
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
The twelve paintings in the exhibition are imaginary film stills based on on a Science Fiction screenplay, titled Regression, that was supposedly developed in the 1950s. The film wa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Untitled Film Still (Green Lagoon)
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
The twelve paintings in the exhibition are imaginary film stills based on on a Science Fiction screenplay, titled Regression, that was supposedly developed in the 1950s. The film wa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Calling (study), not framed
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Birthday Wish
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the validity of the canon, paintings of the old masters on the walls of museums like the Met, the Louvre, Rijks museum still have a certain cache. They're revered not just for their technique but because they enshrine our collective past experience. Of course, it's a selected past that gets validated. Conspicuously absent to me as a gay man...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Calling and Unexpected Blessing II - 2 paintings by Wes Hempel
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
Two paintings by Wes Hempel, Calling, 44x32" and Unexpected Blessing II, 48x32"
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$20,311 Sale Price
20% Off
Untitled Film Still (Spheres)
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
The twelve paintings in the exhibition are imaginary film stills based on on a Science Fiction screenplay, titled Regression, that was supposedly developed in the 1950s. The film wa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Untitled Film Still (Anemone Trees)
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
The twelve paintings in the exhibition are imaginary film stills based on on a Science Fiction screenplay, titled Regression, that was supposedly developed in the 1950s. The film wa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Hot Afternoon
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Calling, not framed
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Untitled Film Still (Storm Lagoon)
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
The twelve paintings in the exhibition are imaginary film stills based on on a Science Fiction screenplay, titled Regression, that was supposedly developed in the 1950s. The film wa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Untitled Film Still (Pink Blossoms)
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
The twelve paintings in the exhibition are imaginary film stills based on on a Science Fiction screenplay, titled Regression, that was supposedly developed in the 1950s. The film wa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
First Team
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
The twelve paintings in the exhibition are imaginary film stills based on on a Science Fiction screenplay, titled Regression, that was supposedly developed in the 1950s. The film wa...
Category
2010s Contemporary Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Morning Ride
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
No Longer Tied To The Past
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NYC & LA --A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good in...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Power Outage
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$24,000
Unexpected Blessing II
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NYC & LA --A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good in...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
PRIVATE ISLAND SERIES, “Passing Storm"
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Page 207 (Van Dyck Series)
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NYC & LA -- For decades, Wes Hempel has been committed to re-envisioning the depiction of masculinity in contemporary art. By setting psychologically acute portraits of modern-day men against backdrops appropriated from such disparate sources as neoclassical history...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Paper, Mixed Media
Catch (study), not framed
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Statue and the Plane, not framed
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Lick (COLLABORATION WITH JACK BALAS)
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
This painting is a collaboration with artist Jack Balas. Jack is Wes Hempel's partner.
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict o...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Family Circle (COLLABORATION WITH JACK BALAS)
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
This painting is a collaboration with artist Jack Balas. Jack is Wes Hempel's partner.
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict o...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Riding Home
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the validity of the canon, paintings of the old masters on the walls of museums like the Met, the Louvre, Rijks museum still have a certain cache. They're revered not just for their technique but because they enshrine our collective past experience. Of course, it's a selected past that gets validated. Conspicuously absent to me as a gay man...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
After The Last Wave
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the validity of the canon, paintings of the old masters on the walls of museums like the Met, the Louvre, Rijks museum still have a certain cache. They're revered not just for their technique but because they enshrine our collective past experience. Of course, it's a selected past that gets validated. Conspicuously absent to me as a gay man...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Last Basket
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the validity of the canon, paintings of the old masters on the walls of museums like the Met, the Louvre, Rijks museum still have a certain cache. They're revered not just for their technique but because they enshrine our collective past experience. Of course, it's a selected past that gets validated. Conspicuously absent to me as a gay man...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Stop On The Drive Home
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Tree Tattoo, not framed
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
A walk through any major museum will reveal paintings that depict or legitimate only certain kinds of experience. Despite the good intentions of critical theorists questioning the va...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Farewell #4
By Wes Hempel
Located in Fairfield, CT
Represented by George Billis Gallery, NYC & LA -- For decades, Wes Hempel has been committed to re-envisioning the depiction of masculinity in contemporary art. By setting psychologically acute portraits of modern-day men against backdrops appropriated from such disparate sources as neoclassical history...
Category
2010s American Realist Wes Hempel Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$7,500
Wes Hempel art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Wes Hempel art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, orange and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Wes Hempel in canvas, fabric, oil paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Wes Hempel art, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Peter Sculthorpe, Rachel Personett, and Carl Bretzke. Wes Hempel art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,800 and tops out at $25,389, while the average work can sell for $8,000.