“Stuart Davis: In Full Swing”

Stuart Davis - Egg Beater No. 4 - 1928 - Oil on canvas - 27 1/8 x 38 1/4 in. - The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C. (click photo for larger image)Stuart Davis (1894-1964) was an American abstract artist—heavily influenced by Cubism. His unique paintings presaged the use of commercial art and advertising by Pop artists of the 1960s. By 1913, a very young Davis was competent enough to show five watercolors in the Armory Show. This was the first large exhibit in the United States of avant-garde European art, and the event marked a turning point in his career. Davis developed a new style based on the rhythmic contrast between geometric areas of flat color and objects clearly defined in linear perspective. His meticulously planned and executed paintings possess wit and gaiety. Davis was inspired by taxis, storefronts, and neon signs. The dissonant colors and lively, repetitive rhythms in his work can be seen as visual analogs to jazz music, which he loved. The Whitney Museum in New York is currently presenting “Stuart Davis: In Full Swing” and it will be up until September 25, 2016. Don’t miss this fantastic exhibit!