Pop Artist Peter Max Paints Taylor Swift

Peter Max portrait of Taylor Swift. Image courtesy of Tampa Bay Online.

World renowned artist Peter Max recently painted a portrait of country music star Taylor Swift. The painting, which was on display earlier this week at a Max exhibit in Los Angeles, was also used as the cover of a recent edition of Florida’s Tampa Tribune in anticipation for her upcoming concert in the area.  

Swift has been a long-time fan of Max’s artwork and said, “When I was growing up, my family spent our summers in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, and I remember there was this art gallery on 96th Street. I used to walk past it and stop in my tracks whenever there was a Peter Max painting on display.”

“I think I was 8 or 9 the first time I saw one of his paintings,” she added. “His art is like another world to me, and I can’t even explain how much it means to me that he did my portrait.”

Excited about being immortalized in a Peter Max painting, Swift chose the photo for Max to paint herself. She ended up going with the cover of her award-winning album, Fearless.  

It seems as though Max has been keeping himself busy as of late with all of the celebrity portraits he has been painting. Not too long ago the Park West Gallery bloggers wrote about Max’s portrait of basketball superstar Shaq, and with this latest celebrity portrait of Taylor Swift, we can’t help but wonder who will be next.

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Related Links:

• Peter Max Paints Shaq
• Peter Max Rock ‘n’ Roll Video Retrospective
• Park West Gallery Peter Max Collection

Park West Gallery Spring Sale Now Online

With spring and all its special days (think Easter, Mother’s Day, and graduation parties) right around the corner, the Park West Gallery Spring Collection was put together with all your gift giving needs in mind!

 The collection is currently featured online and boasts an array of fine artwork, high-end designer jewelry, sports memorabilia and animation, all of which are being offered at exciting sale prices now through May 14th.

More than 300 artworks from some of the world’s greatest artists are featured in the Spring Collection including old and modern masters Durer, Miro, Goya and Renoir as well as contemporary artists. A variety of media are available including oil and acrylic paintings, watercolors and drawings, hand-signed limited edition etchings, lithographs, serigraphs and hand-embellished graphic works.

Fine jewelry from high-end designers such as Erte, Lumiere, Diara, Roberto Coin, and Gatto Luciano is also featured. While the collection is diverse, all of the jewelry has certain qualities in common such as superb craftsmanship, timeless characteristics and unique design.

A portion of Park West Gallery’s extensive sports memorabilia collection has been incorporated into the Spring Collection. A selection of signed photographs and sport-specific memorabilia are included in the offering as well as hand-signed Muhammad Ali collectibles exclusive to Park West Gallery.

Also included in the Spring Collection are animation works featuring lovable Looney Tunes, Disney, and Hanna-Barbera characters. Limited edition cels, lithographs, hand drawings, and production cels make up this special offering.  

View the Spring Sale Collection at sales.parkwestgallery.com

Gallery Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 10am-6pm; Thursday-Friday, 10am-7pm; Saturday, 11am-6pm

Call toll-free: 800-521-9654 x4; Canada/Int’l: 248-354-2343 x4

Email: sales@parkwestgallery.com

Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917

Henri Matisse. Bathers by a River 1909–10, 1913, 1916–17. Charles H. and Mary F. S. Worcester Collection, 1953.158. © 2010 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY. Image courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Art Institute of Chicago is currently showcasing a new Henri Matisse exhibition, “Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917.” This exhibit takes a close look at one short, enigmatic phase in the artist’s career, during which Matisse’s trademark bright colors and deceptively simple approach to form were replaced with blacks and grays and an uncharacteristic density.

Some critics attribute the change to war pressures and the challenge of a younger generation of painters, particularly the cubism championed by Matisse’s younger friend and rival, Pablo Picasso. However, Stephanie D’Alessandro of the Art Institute and John Elderfield of the Museum of Modern Art in New York who curated the show feel differently. Alessandro and Elderfield believe Matisse decided to reinvent himself artistically and develop new methods of art construction.

“Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917″ contains nearly 120 of Matisse’s paintings, sculptures, etchings and drawings — many from that crucial period between 1913 and 1917, but some from before and after. The exhibition runs in Chicago through June 20, and it will be on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York from July 18 through Oct. 11.

 - Information taken from F.N. D’Alessio’s article Exhibit Looks at Enigmatic Phase in Matisse’s Art

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If you can’t make it to the exhibit – or even if you can and you want more Henri Matisse artwork in your life – visit the Park West Gallery website to view a portion of the Park West Matisse collection.

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Related Links:

• Focusing on Matisse as a Printmaker
• Park West Gallery Artist Biographies: Henri Matisse
• Park West Gallery Matisse Collection

Park West Gallery Receives 2010 Best of Southfield Award

For the second consecutive year, Park West Gallery has been selected for the Best of Southfield Award in the Retail Establishment Property Operation category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

Upon receiving this award founder and CEO of Park West Gallery, Albert Scaglione said, “It is an honor to be recognized for the second year in a row by the U.S. Commerce Association. This is a reflection of the hard work many dedicated individuals put in each day here at Park West. It has been a pleasure being part of the metro Detroit community for over 40 years, and we look forward to continuing our presence here for many years to come.”

The USCA ”Best of Local Business” award program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of business through service to their customers and community. Nationwide, only 1 in 70 of the 2009 award recipients qualified as two-time award winners.

Read the full press release >>

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Related Links:

• City Honors 40 Years of Park West Gallery
• Park West Gallery Day Official Proclamation
• City of Southfield Declares “Park West Gallery Day” on June 15
• Detroit’s First Annual Peace and Love Day
• The Park West Foundation

Artist Romero Britto Speaks at FIU

Internationally acclaimed pop artist Romero Britto recently spoke to students at Florida International University. Known for his unique artwork, which is often referred to as the “art of happiness,” Britto is also quite accomplished in business.

Britto’s works can be found in galleries and prominent art collections across the globe as well as on just about every street corner in his home city of Miami, Florida. While this is impressive, Park West Gallery is even more impressed by Britto’s ability to convey a sense of hope and warmth in all he does. He even created his own foundation, as he is dedicated to giving back to the world at large.

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Related Links:

• Park West Gallery Britto Collection
• Park West Gallery Artist Biographies – Romero Britto
• Britto and Kids Paint for Peace in Israel

Artist Peter Max Paints Shaq

Basketball legend meets art legend in Peter Max’s recent life-size painting of Shaquille O’Neal. Pop Icon Peter Max, whom Park West Gallery has proudly had a relationship with for over 40 years, created this artwork for the Size DOES Matter exhibit, which was curated by Shaq.

Size DOES Matter, which is now on view at the FLAG Art Foundation, includes works from international artists and explores the myriad ways that scale affects the perception of contemporary art. This large Max artwork will be prominently featured in the exhibition, and it’s expected to draw a large crowd as it is America’s most well known and collected artist’s latest publicized painting.

Peter Max recently sat down for an interview with Fox’s local New York news anchors, during which he gave the public a glimpse of his painting and discussed Shaq’s visit to his studio. Watch the full interview below.

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Related Links:

• Park West Gallery Peter Max Collection
• Peter Max Rock ‘n’ Roll Video Retrospective
• Peter Max Receives Award for Charity Work

Detroit’s First Annual Peace and Love Day

The Park West Foundation, founded in 2006 by Park West Gallery CEO Albert Scaglione and his wife Mitsie Scaglione, is co-sponsoring the First Annual Peace and Love Day, which is being held Saturday, March 13, 2010 from 1- 5 p.m. on the Marygrove College campus.

Weusi Olusola. Image Courtesy of the Detroit Free Press.

This empowering event dedicated to taking a stand against violence will offer community resources and entertainment and is free and open to the public.

Peace and Love Day is in honor of national youth and peace activist Weusi Olusola, who, at 16 years old was the innocent victim of gun violence, leaving him paralyzed. The event marks the one-year anniversary of his passing, at the age of 38, from liver cancer.

The event will feature inspiring stories from people who have been directly affected by violence, remarks by Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh, and a keynote address by Diane Weathers, Senior Vice President for Communications and Advancement at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Ms. Weathers was the former Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine and a program officer for the United Nations World Food Program.

In addition to the Park West Foundation’s “Blue Babies,” the event sponsors are: Marygrove College Student Government, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan’s Pioneers for Peace, Detroit City Council, Partnerships for Peace, City of Detroit Youth Commission on Peace & Justice, Tamarian Institute, Youth Violence Prevention Task Force, University of Central High School and the Focus Hope Safety Project.

For more information on this event, please contact the Peace and Love Day Committee: (313) 254-3818

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Related Links:

• Park West Foundation Presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Olusola
• Celebration Honors Detroit Peace Leader’s Life
• Park West Foundation Participates in Peace Day

Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris

“Three Musicians” (1921) by Pablo Picasso, Philadelphia Museum of Art.
©2010 Estate of Pablo Picasso/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

PHILADELPHIA — A new exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art focuses on Modern Masters including Picasso, Braque and Chagall–commonly known as the School of Paris. Through April 25, Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris will feature 214 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper.  

From the museum website:

“The exhibition follows the trajectory of Picasso’s career from his early experiments with abstraction to his pioneering role in the development of Cubism, as well as his dialogue with Surrealism and other important art movements in the ensuing decades. The exhibition will also explore the important role that the city of Paris played in the history of modern art during the first half of the twentieth century, when artists from around the world followed Picasso’s example and moved to the French capital. It will include works by expatriate artists like Marc Chagall, Jacques Lipchitz, Patrick Henry Bruce, and Man Ray, who collectively formed a vibrant, international avant-garde group known, for posterity, as the School of Paris.”

For more information on this exhibit, please visit www.philamuseum.org
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Park West Gallery has become one of the longest running and largest dealers of Pablo Picasso graphic works internationally. Our current collection, both archived and actively offered, includes over one thousand five hundred works, including drawings and mixed media unique works, etchings, aquatints, linoleum cuts, lithographs, and ceramics, all rigorously authenticated, guaranteed and selected based on the highest quality and value.

Please visit picasso.parkwestgallery.com to learn more