Agnes Pelton: Desert Transcendentalist
Agnes Pelton: Desert Transcendentalist is the first major exhibition of the under-recognized American modernist painter since the exhibition at Palm Springs Art Museum in 1995. Although she painted conventional landscapes and portraits, Pelton (1881–1961) is most celebrated for her abstract compositions that reflect her interest in esoteric subjects and occult philosophies, including numerology and Agni Yoga with its principal focus on fire as a guiding force. She paired the emotive power of ethereal abstract forms with delicate, shimmering veils of color and mystical symbols such as stars, mountains, and fire to portray her consciousness of attaining union with “Divine Reality” that she experienced in dreams and meditation.
The exhibition of 33 works sheds light on Pelton’s artistic contributions to American modernism, a movement more commonly associated with artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986) in the Southwest and Marsden Hartley (1877–1943) in New England. Furthermore, Pelton’s interest in spirituality and abstraction links her to a larger international movement that is only now being more substantially studied and contextualized. Agnes Pelton: Desert Transcendentalist represents a fascinating reexamination of an overlooked female artist and her role in, and impact upon, modern and contemporary art history.
Agnes Pelton: Trascendentalista del desierto es la primera gran exposición de la poco reconocida pintora modernista estadounidense desde la exposición en el Museo de Arte de Palm Springs en el 1995. Aunque pintó paisajes y retratos convencionales, Pelton (1881–1961) es celebrada mayormente por sus composiciones abstractas que reflejan su interés en temas esotéricos y filosofías ocultas, incluyendo la numerología y el Agni Yoga, con su enfoque principal en el fuego como una fuerza motriz. Combinó el poder emotivo de las formas abstractas etéreas con delicados y brillantes velos de color y símbolos místicos tales como estrellas, montañas y fuego para representar la consciencia de su unión con la “realidad divina” que experimentaba en sueños y meditaciones.
La exposición de 33 obras arroja luz sobre las contribuciones artísticas de Pelton al modernismo estadounidense, un movimiento más comúnmente asociado con artistas como Georgia O'Keeffe (1887–1986) en el suroeste y Marsden Hartley (1877–1943) en Nueva Inglaterra. Además, el interés de Pelton en la espiritualidad y la abstracción la vincula a un movimiento internacional más amplio que solo ahora está siendo estudiado y contextualizado de manera más sustancial. Agnes Pelton: Trascendentalista del desierto representa una reexaminación fascinante de una artista femenina ignorada y de su papel e impacto en la historia del arte moderno y contemporáneo.
This exhibition was organized by Phoenix Art Museum and curated by Gilbert Vicario, The Selig Family Chief Curator
The Palm Springs presentation is organized by Rochelle Steiner, Chief Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs
Lead support is provided by the Mary Ingebrand-Pohlad Foundation and Pamela & James Muzzy.
Generous support is provided by Vicki & Bill Hood and Yvonne & Steve Maloney.
Additional Support is provided by Nora & Guy Barron and The Sam and Diane Stewart Family Foundation.
This season’s exhibitions are sponsored by the Herman & Faye Sarkowsky Charitable Foundation.
