Adaline Kent's Circle

May 30 - Jul 13, 2024
  • Altman Siegel is pleased to present Adaline Kent’s Circle, an exhibition of photographs, letters, drawings, paintings, and sculptures from the family and friends of renowned Bay Area artist Adaline Kent (1900-1957). Kent was a member of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most prolific midcentury artistic circle. The exhibition places the work of this Bay Area legend within the context of the dynamic artistic milieu in which she lived and worked.

  • In marrying Robert B. Howard, Kent joined the “First Family of Bay Area Modernism” including architect John Galen Howard, who designed the Campanile at the University of California Berkeley; surrealist painter Charles Howard and his wife Madge Knight; social realist muralist and printmaker John Langley Howard; architect of Coit Tower, Henry Temple Howard, and his wife artist Jane Berlandina.

  • Adaline maintained close artistic friendships throughout her life and the exhibition includes letters from fellow artists, Dorr Bothwell and Ray Johnson, as well as a painted invitation from Gordon Onslow Ford and a portrait of Adaline Kent by Victor Arnautoff, her classmate at California School of Fine Arts. Kent was acquainted with Diego Rivera, who stayed at the “Monkey Block” with his wife Frida Kahlo while working on his Allegory of California fresco for the San Francisco Stock Exchange in the 1930s. She shared a drawing group with David Park and Elmer Bischoff, and Mark Rothko stayed in her family home while teaching in San Francisco during the summers of 1947 and 1949. Adaline studied with master calligrapher Hodo Tobase in 1955 alongside Gordon Onslow Ford and Ruth Asawa.
     
    Photographs of the artist, her sculpting tools and a travel journal are featured alongside the work of her family and friends. The exhibition highlights the creative community that Kent was in conversation with throughout her career.
    • Diego Rivera Untitled, n.d. Ink on paper 5 x 12 1/4 in 12.7 x 31.1 cm Matted: 13 x 18 in 33 x 45.7 cm Framed: 12 x 19 1/4 in 30.5 x 48.9 cm
      Diego Rivera
      Untitled, n.d.
      Ink on paper
      5 x 12 1/4 in
      12.7 x 31.1 cm
      Matted: 13 x 18 in
      33 x 45.7 cm
      Framed: 12 x 19 1/4 in
      30.5 x 48.9 cm
    • David Park Two Profiles, 1946-47 Oil on canvas 18 1/2 x 12 1/2 in 47 x 31.8 cm Framed: 19 1/2 x 13 1/2 in 49.5 x 34.3 cm
      David Park
      Two Profiles, 1946-47
      Oil on canvas
      18 1/2 x 12 1/2 in
      47 x 31.8 cm
      Framed: 19 1/2 x 13 1/2 in
      49.5 x 34.3 cm
    • Elmer Bischoff Collection in Yellow Setting, 1946 Oil on canvas 21 1/2 x 14 in 54.6 x 35.6 cm Framed: 23 1/4 x 16 in 59 x 40.6 cm
      Elmer Bischoff
      Collection in Yellow Setting, 1946
      Oil on canvas
      21 1/2 x 14 in
      54.6 x 35.6 cm
      Framed: 23 1/4 x 16 in
      59 x 40.6 cm
    • Ruth Asawa Untitled (Hanging Six Interlocked Double Trumpets), c. 1960 Brass wire (looped wire) Diameter: 12 in 30.5 cm
      Ruth Asawa
      Untitled (Hanging Six Interlocked Double Trumpets), c. 1960
      Brass wire (looped wire)
      Diameter: 12 in
      30.5 cm
    • Madge Knight Untitled, 1948 Gouache on paper 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 in 11.4 x 16.5 cm Framed: 11 1/4 x 13 1/2 in 28.6 x 34.3 cm
      Madge Knight
      Untitled, 1948
      Gouache on paper
      4 1/2 x 6 1/2 in
      11.4 x 16.5 cm
      Framed: 11 1/4 x 13 1/2 in
      28.6 x 34.3 cm
    • Robert B. Howard Muir Pass, 1939-44 Watercolor, gouache, and charcoal on paper 15 1/2 x 22 1/2 in 39.4 x 57.1 cm Framed: 19 1/4 x 26 in 48.9 x 66 cm
      Robert B. Howard
      Muir Pass, 1939-44
      Watercolor, gouache, and charcoal on paper
      15 1/2 x 22 1/2 in
      39.4 x 57.1 cm
      Framed: 19 1/4 x 26 in
      48.9 x 66 cm
    • John Langley Howard Untitled, 1931 Oil on canvas Framed: 24 x 18 in 61 x 45.7 cm
      John Langley Howard
      Untitled, 1931
      Oil on canvas
      Framed: 24 x 18 in
      61 x 45.7 cm
    • Jane Berlandina Untitled, 1930 Watercolor on paper Framed: 35 x 27 in 88.9 x 68.6 cm
      Jane Berlandina
      Untitled, 1930
      Watercolor on paper
      Framed: 35 x 27 in
      88.9 x 68.6 cm
    • Betty Parsons Marin, 1956 Acrylic and graphite on paper 11 7/8 x 9 in 30.2 x 22.9 cm Framed: 15 1/2 x 12 1/2 in 39.4 x 31.8 cm
      Betty Parsons
      Marin, 1956
      Acrylic and graphite on paper
      11 7/8 x 9 in
      30.2 x 22.9 cm
      Framed: 15 1/2 x 12 1/2 in
      39.4 x 31.8 cm
  • For more information, please contact Altman Siegel at inquire@altmansiegel.com or 415-576-9300.