Roger MEDEARIS
Roger Medearis (1920-2001) was an American Regionalist painter and printmaker. After studying with Thomas Hart Benton at the Kansas City Art Institute, Medearis began selling his paintings through the Associated American Artists Gallery in New York City with Benton’s help. He was doing well as an artist until he returned from service after World War II. Abstract Expressionism had drowned out Regionalism and Medearis quit making art for over a decade. When he returned to art years later, he expanded his subject matter to include the Western landscape, which inspired him after he moved to Calfornia in 1976 and where he lived for the rest of his life. Medearis’s style was greatly influenced by Benton, with figures that seemed sculpted by clay and a short perspective with a frame full of movement and imagery. However, he made the style his own. His artwork was much lighter than Bentons, both in palette and in subject matter. All of the imagery in Medearis’ work had a soft, round, full effect, with subtle warmness, like there is an inside joke that the artist shares with his subjects. Even his landscapes look like they are living and breathing bodies, with warm colors and full dimensionality. This painting style translated beautifully to lithography, which was his chosen printmaking medium. The gradation and softness that is characteristic of lithography highlighted Medearis’s style and made his painting and printmaking oeuvre seamlessly cohesive.
Sold
View Details
Barnyard Gate
MEDEARIS, Roger
Lithograph on white wove paper.Edition of 100. Numbered, titled, signed and dated in pencil. Very fine impression in pristine condition.
$650
The Secret
MEDEARIS, Roger
Lithograph on wove paper. Edition of 90.Signed, titled, and numbered in pencil.