Born on a ranch near Fresno, California, Maynard Dixon (1875-1946) became a noted illustrator, landscape artist and mural painter of the early 20th-century American West. His favored subjects included landscapes (especially the desert), Indians, early settlers and cowboys. Influenced by modernism, he developed a unique style of painting bold masses of color with simple lines which led him into mural painting where he excelled much of his professional life.
The people Dixon depicted in his artwork reflect the cultural mix of the American West including Hispanic, Native American and Anglo inhabitants. His second wife, famed photographer Dorothea Lange, was devoted to chronicling the plight of the migrant workers and undoubtedly had an influence on Dixon’s style and choice of subjects.
The paintings, drawings and illustrations by Dixon that comprise the collection of Mr. and Mrs. A.P. Hays span the years 1897 to 1942. It is representative of Dixon’s travels throughout the American West—from his native California, to Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Montana from each of the six decades of the artist’s career. Included in this exhibition are approximately 65 artworks as well as 16 photographs of the artist by Dorothea Lange. A 40-page illustrated catalogue accompanies this exhibition.
ORGANIZED FROM THE A.P. HAYS COLLECTION, THIS EXHIBITION IS FUNDED IN PART BY THE ART MUSEUM’S WESTERN ART COUNCIL AND TRUDY & HAROLD STACK.
In conjunction with this exhibition, approximately seven major Maynard Dixon paintings from private collections will be exhibited in the Denney Western American Art Wing from December 2, 2008 through March 1, 2009.
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