20: Agnes Pelton - Incandescent Visions

Art Slice - A Palatable Serving of Art History

Stephanie and Russell are back to take you to the California desert, where they discuss the life and work of Agnes Pelton, a theosophical and occult painter of the 20th century who was relatively unknown in the Art World Mainstream until recently.

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Despite similarities to Hilma af Klint and Wassily Kandinsky (both inspired by Theosophy) in terms of abstraction and often compared to painter Georgia O’ Keefe with her desert landscapes – Agnes’ work is truly unique, combining theosophical symbology with a keen eye to light filled observations resulting in otherworldly and incandescent compositions. Using oil paint and numerous layers of glazes, she achieves that mesmerizing glowing light effect present in paintings of Italian Baroque masters like Artemisia Gentileschi and (Michelangelo Merisi da) Caravaggio.

After leaving behind the bustling East Coast, Agnes sought a life in Cathedral City, located in the California desert, where she could channel her energy and focus on harnessing the incandescent visions that came to her through her meditations while also exploring her spirituality.

There, she found a community of like-minded outsiders and artists who thrived in the oasis that was Cathedral City for them too. Despite her lack of mainstream success for the most part during her life, she made a lasting impression on those who knew her – whether it was through her presence or through her stunning paintings.

Topics include sugar addiction problems, dirty windshields, studious rattlesnakes, silver tea sets, and cliffside thrift stores.

The works discussed today are Sandstorm, 1932; Orbits. 1934; and The Blest. 1941.

The featured music today is "Doug and Mike Starn" by Rob Lynch & Jonathan Hughes from the album Public / Private

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