The Weird World of Alice Neel
August 2, 2010 
Self Portrait at age 80, Alice Neel (1900 – 1984)
While I do admit to not particularly caring for much of what she does, I absolutely love this whacky painting by Alice Neel!! Such guts to let it all hang out like that (ok, perhaps I could have found a better metaphor!)
Everything that's wonderful about Neel's art is here in this portrait. What she leaves out is as important as what she puts in; and it’s that wonkiness that gives her art its character. She tackled her subjects with an immediacy that was all her own. She was blunt and to the point.
"I don't do realism," Neel once said, going on to declare that a room, a chair, a table and a person were all the same to her.
Whitechapel Gallery in London is having an exhibition of the work of Alice Neel. It is up until September 17. Click here for more information.
Reader Comments (1)
Would I, could I dare to be so "out there." I am distracted by the physicalness of her portrait. A reminder of where I am and where I will be.