Oh Be Joyful Gallery is pleased to present three historical paintings, handpicked by Nicholas Reti for their relevant stories in painting of the American West. This is an exciting new area of paintings for Oh Be Joyful Gallery. We hope that you will follow us as we continue to present more historical gems curated to the gallery; stop by to see them in person, or consider adding one to your personal collection today.
Robert Genn (1936 – 2014)
A definitive and celebrated Canadian painter, Robert Genn’s style is unmistakable. Born in British Columbia, his work and career serve as a bridge between the Canadian Group of Seven and contemporary Canadian painters. He was a dedicated experimentalist who composed in simplified shapes and bold colors that have a mosaic-like quality.
Robert Genn “Indian Girl” 24×30 oil $10,000
While the grand vistas of the mountains and lakes of the Canadian wilderness were his focus, Genn often painted totem poles and the people of the iconic landscapes he visited. He also traveled the world and often painted en plein air, fully embracing his love for the exploration of land, people, and paint. A prolific painter, he was represented by the best galleries across Canada.
“Indian Girl” features the mysterious portrait of a young woman surrounded by the forest and inlet waters. Genn often visited and painted indigenous people around British Columbia.
His work and legacy continue to inspire and educate artists through his many books, lectures, and websites available to the public today.
Click here to learn more about Robert Genn.
Ila McAfee (1897 – 1996)
Born and raised in Gunnison, Colorado, it was a natural fit for Ila to study art at Western State College. She went on to study at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League in New York, among others. She is one artist from the History of Art in the Gunnison Valley who made a significant mark on the place we call home.
“Heavyweight Champions” depicts a whirling mass of horses prancing through a glittering cloud of dust. The imagery of this stone lithograph proudly carries the shared, robust forms and messages of works produced at that time (1930s). These espoused the strengths of American progress found in small towns and big cities alike, as the country struggled to pull out of the Depression.
Ila McAfee “Heavyweight Champions” 10×14 stone lithograph $4,000
Under the umbrella of Roosevelt’s New Deal, McAfee was selected as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) artist, which put unemployed artists to work. She was commissioned to paint several post office murals including one in Gunnison in 1940, which can still be seen today at the Post Office. Another painting of hers was a part of the WPA traveling exhibition and is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian.
McAfee, like many WPA artists, went on to be an important contributor to American Art. After her time in Gunnison, she relocated to Taos, where she was a well-known part of the celebrated community of painters there.
Click here to read more about Ila McAfee.
Her works are held in Museum collections including: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gilcrease Museum, Dallas Museum of Art, Harwood Museum of Art.
Roy Andersen (1930 – 2019) SOLD
Roy Andersen is one of America’s most celebrated and recognizable western artists. Known for his meticulously accurate depictions of Native Americans and his daring embrace of color, his work can be seen in top private and museum collections across the country.
Andersen’s fascination with and research into all things western informed his entire body of work. Andersen’s thorough knowledge of his subjects give his paintings a high level of authenticity. In particular, he studied about and painted scenes pertaining to Crow, Cheyenne, and Apache people. He began his art career as an illustrator for National Geographic, Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated.
Roy Andersen “Crow Spirit” 5×7 oil SOLD
“Crow Spirit” is filled with Andersen’s confidence in color and accuracy of form. The main character and bright quality communicate an essence of honor and humility.
Andersen was inducted into the Cowboy Artists of America in 1989 and in 1991, he won the Gold Medal in the Oil Category at the 25th Annual CAA Exhibition.
To learn more about Roy Andersen, click here.
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Here at Oh Be Joyful Gallery, we are fascinated by the landscape of the West and the ethos it inspires. We seek out historical and contemporary artists to explore and share the wide array of artistic visions and experiences shaped by the confluence that is the American West.
We are proud to offer artworks which express a deep relationship with the land and its history. If there’s something in your collection you’re looking to rehome that fits into these criteria, please send us an email with details at cb@ohbejoyfulgallery.com