Eric Fischl: Noted American contemporary artist. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Eric Fischl, a major American contemporary painter, will discuss his work and career at the Westport Arts Center (WAC) ArtsSpeaks event Friday at 10 a.m. in advance of the opening reception at 6 p.m. for a major exhibit of his works.
He will also be available to sign copies of his book “Bad Boy: My Life On and Off the Canvas” (2013) written with Michael Stone.
Fisch’s work is represented in many museums, as well as prestigious private and corporate collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Whitney Museum of American Art, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Curated by Helen Klisser During, WAC’s artistic director, “Eric Fischl” features 30 photographs, painting, and prints courtesy of the Hall Collection and Eric Fischl Studio.
The showcased works are a unique aggregation of Fischl’s early photographs and paintings rom 1982-2008, representing his distinct figurative style.
The exhibition provides a rare opportunity to see these works outside of these collections, according to WAC.
Critics consider Fischl one of the most influential figurative painters of the late 20th and early 21st century.
Eric Fischl, Saint Tropez (1982-1988), 1990 (detail). Dye transfer photograph (1 of 16). Hall Collection. Courtesy Hall Art Foundation. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) © Eric Fischl
The WAC says “He is known for his provocative narratives of middle class America, and for making private moments public.
“His work is focused on people – their bodies – and the associated complex relationship we have with our physicality.
“His style in the 1970s was in direct contrast to the conceptual and minimalist art that was popular at the time.”
Included in the exhibition is his series of Saint Tropez (1982 – 1988) dye transfer photographs (1990) from the Hall Collection.
“This series exemplifies Fischl’s sense of voyeurism and his use of water as a recurrent theme, both the ocean as a symbol of life and the swimming pool as its domestic manifestation,” WAC said.
The exhibit runs through Sept.5.
