Vanessa Rothe Fine Art presents: “Americans in Paris, Fashion” - April 16th to 23rd - Vanessa Rothe Fine Art Gallery
At the Salmagundi Club - 47 5th Avenue New York, NY 11003
Info at +1 (949) 280 -1555 and www.vanessarothefineart.com
The exciting Vanessa Rothe Fine Art Gallery’s fine art project, “Americans in Paris” now in its 7th year, aims to inspire today’s leading fine artists in Realism and Impressionism to follow in the footsteps of many historical masters who had traveled to Paris to be inspired by the splendors of France to find new alluring foreign subjects and themes. Inspired by the great American painters before them, such as Sargent, Whistler and Cassatt to name a few, a group of American realist and impressionist artists would travel to Paris to draw inspiration from the city of light, architecture and fine art. There they attended fine museums, examined the masters, absorbed the culture, shared ideas and painted together with the goal of reaching the next level of mastery in their work. The group studied advanced group composition in the museums, and Paris ateliers where historically so many important artists had found inspiration and formed connections before. Part of their goal is to recreate the artist comradery that exisited between Parisian artist creative groups of the past such as the Impressionists, and artist, writers such as Hemmingway and Fitzgerald, Picasso and patrons like Gertrude Stein.
Since beginning in 2015, the art project has enjoyed various trips to Paris, live workshops in Provence hosted by Workshops in France, numerous successful fine art exhibitions not only at Rothe’s gallery, but at some of the leading galleries in America and Paris such as Arcadia Contemporary, Galerie Prince de L’oeil and the Salmagundi Club in New York. They have continued to share what they learn, giving live demonstrations, inviting guest lectures on art history, and presenting new concepts and themes to the galleries and at fine art schools. They are making art history.
Artist Michelle Dunaway shares her thoughts on the art project. “ Being a part of AIP has been an incredible experience. Traveling together to Paris and Provence we’ve delved into the history of painting by studying museums works and building camaraderie plein air painting together . Exhibiting our work as a group in various shows in Paris, NY and CA has been a beautiful culmination representing our time with one another as artists while furthering our knowledge and inspiration while traveling abroad “
Derek Harrison - Crimson
This year the Americans in Paris fine art project and painters group adopts one of the gallery's annual themes: Fine Art and Fashion. For this stylish exhibition, over thirty of the leading realists and impressionists in America are currently creating new works inspired by fashion designer icons, contemporary fashions, and fashion photography for April of 2023 in New York. The exhibition will run April 16th to the 23rd, with special events on the 20th and 21st afternoon evenings. It will take place in the beautiful parlor of the Salmagundi Club at 47 on 5th avenue in Manhattan. The Americans in Paris group includes artists such as Michael Carson, Quang Ho, Adrienne Stein, Vincent Xeus, David Kassan, Derek Penix, Charles W. Mundy, J.Louis, Suchitra Bhosle, Aaron Westerberg, Jeremy Lipking, Michelle Dunaway, Scott Burdick, Susan Lyon, Kyle Stuckey, Derek Harrison, Vanessa Rothe, Jesse Powell, Joseph Lorusso, James Kroner …and many more. There are currently 32 artists in total.
“ My work “An Evening in Paris” was painted in the studio shortly after my wife and I came back from our honeymoon. This painting is about capturing the life of the city—where the hustle bustle is met with the importance of slowing down and enjoying the company of others over food and wine. I also tried to incorporate that sense of two worlds as one with the colors and lighting—the overall cooler blue tones surrounding the warmer and intimate environment of the cafe. Many parts of the painting are painted loosely and more impressionistic in order to give the eye an opportunity to rest in a busy seen.” Says artist Kyle Stuckey
Aaron Westerberg - Pink Kimono
Experience the runway in art this April, from fur coats, to the iconic Chanel and Audrey Hepburn, original paintings of Paris and the Eiffel tower by night, colorful kimono robes, ballet tutu’s, French scarves, vintage fashion photos re-created into new paintings, bold modern New York and Paris cityscapes and modern figurative works, Works will be available in their small study versions as well as large scale museum quality works. Most of the works presented for sale will be oil paintings, with a few affordable watercolor fashion sketches as well.
“Fashion and fine art go hand in hand. Design, color, rhythm and flow all stem from the same desire to create something beautiful. My painting, "Platinum" was all about movement, subtle detail and mood. Creating a piece that captures that essence is an exciting challenge that pushes me into the creative territory I thrive within. Vanessa is an exceptional director and curator, combining these art forms with an incredible roster of artists. This will be something new and exciting.” - Says artist Derek Harrison who will have three beautiful figures in the exhibition.
Collectors and artists are encouraged to attend not only for the exhibition and sale, but for the exciting array of events as well. To help convey the similarities in the design concept stage of fashion and works of fine art, the artists will be offering a live “Demo Day” sponsored by Rembrandt Royal Talens, on April 20th in the afternoon from 3:00 to 6:00pm where three of the AIP artists Michelle Dunaway, Vanessa Rothe and Aaron Westerberg will demonstrate their process and discuss sketching for fashion and alla prima painting with art supplies. The evening of the 21st, the curator Vanessa Rothe will give a beautiful one hour slide show presentation tracing the parallels and cross inspiration between fine art and fashion, over the last one hundred years. From Victorian lace and Waterhouse, to mid century modernism and the women’s suit, to today’s contemporary realism.
The exhibition will include more than fifty new fine art works in oils and watercolor, as well as exciting fashion illustration works by Taiwan fashion artist PING YU and fashion photography. In addition it will have for sale an array of bespoke leather shoes by Francis Waplinger and one of a kind clothing by Detlev, Oliver and Vanessa Rothe using vintage, kimono and contemporary hand painted silk fabrics. Detlev Rothe, the curators father, was a well known fashion designer to the stars, creating one of a kind clothing for the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Buffet, and many famed actors from the silver screen such as Chevy Chase and Michael Douglas. Rothe herself started painting on silk at a young age for the family business, and in high school she was a watercolorist, before later becoming a professional oil painter. Fashion and Fine Art have always gone hand and hand in her life. She recognized the similarities between the two, especially in the initial design and concept stage and began having fine art and fashion shows to celebrate both genres of art.
“Part of my mission when creating the Americans in Paris group was to infuse the artists of today with exciting new subjects from Paris. To create exhibits with specific themes such as art and literature, the importance of learning form the masters, French architecture etc. This years exciting Americans in Paris event celebrates the stylish theme of fashion. We discuss the similarities in the creative process of both fine art and fashion. From initial concept of a dress, or idea for a painting, to collecting research and references, creating sketches and drawings, to making the final masterpiece. For this exhibition I asked our all star cast of American artists to be inspired by haute couture, fashion photography, hats, sunglasses, jewels as well as the beautiful cities of fashion such as New York and Paris. We can’t wait to share our new creations with the pubic in New York this April.” Notes Rothe.
The Exhibition and events this year were made possible by the following sponsors: American Art Collector Magazine, Rembrandt Royal Talens, Raymar fine art Panels, Workshops in France, Steven Stern Historical California Fine Art and ARC, the Art Renewal Center for the arts.
To find out more about the seven year history of the Americans in Paris fine art project, or to view the work online, please visit vanessarothefineart.com
Vanessa Rothe Fine Art Gallery (at the Salmagundi Club) 47 5th Avenue New York, NY 10003
(949) 280 -1555 www.vanessarothefineart.com
Kyle Stuckey - One Evening In Paris