Hirschl & Adler Modern

Hirschl & Adler Modern is delighted to announce an exhibition of early works by American Abstract Expressionist painter Franz Kline (1910–1962). The installation will feature more than 20 paintings and works on paper from 1940 to 1950, before Kline débuted his large-scale black-and-white canvases in his first solo exhibition at the Charles Egan Gallery, New York, in 1950.

Hirschl & Adler Modern is proud to present Self-Taught Artists at the Crossroads of Fact and Fiction, an exhibition featuring works by a distinguished group of self-taught artists, including Bill Traylor, James Castle, Willard Watson (The Texas Kid), Purvis Young, Lonnie Holley, Jeanne Brousseau, and James Edward Deeds. This compelling show offers a unique exploration of the intersection between reality and imagination, where the distinctions between truth and fiction blur, creating deeply personal and thought-provoking narratives. The exhibition showcases the diverse visions and creative expressions of artists who, without formal training, developed innovative approaches to artmaking, often infused with personal histories, memories, and cultural storytelling. Their works span a range of media, from drawing and painting to sculpture, and represent a wide spectrum of emotional intensity, from the raw energy of Bill Traylor’s vivid imagery to the meditative abstraction of Lonnie Holley’s intricate, hand-crafted sculptures. A key highlight of the exhibition is the debut of contemporary artist George Widener with Hirschl & Adler Modern. Widener, known for his meticulous works that merge mathematical precision with artistic expression, introduces new pieces that challenge conventional thinking and expand the boundaries of visual culture. Self-Taught Artists at the Crossroads of Fact and Fiction brings together works that explore the fluidity of truth and imagination, celebrating the unique ways in which these artists craft their own realities through art. Their ability to create outside the confines of formal education has led to a rich body of work that challenges accepted definitions of art and artists. Each piece in the exhibition offers a fresh, intimate view of the world, blending fact, myth, and fantasy into a captivating visual dialogue.

Winold Reiss (1886-1953), who scholars increasingly recognize as a pivotal figure in early 20th-century American art, is known for his evocative portraits that capture the spirit and character of his subjects with unparalleled intensity and daring visual approach. The exhibition will cover the full panoply of subjects explored by the artist, including portraits of influential figures from the Harlem Renaissance movement, Mexican revolutionaries, American indigenous cultures, as well as artists, fashion models and other cultural icons in New York in the 1920s and 30s. All will reveal Reiss’s unique combination of innovative artistic design and uncanny psychological depth.