Alice Neel Art for Sale: Prints & Originals

Biography

Alice Neel, a champion of figurative painting during a time when the art world was dominated by Abstract Expressionism, stands among the 20th century's most significant portraitists. Her work delves deeply into the human condition, capturing the essence of her subjects with unflinching honesty and a poignant, psychological insight.

Born on January 28, 1900, in Merion Square, Pennsylvania, Neel grew up in a middle-class family. She showed an early interest in art, which was nurtured by her high school education. Pursuing her passion, she enrolled at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women (now Moore College of Art & Design), where she honed her skills and adopted the principles of the Ashcan School, which favoured realism and depictions of everyday life.

The trajectory of Neel's artistic development was decidedly personal, with her work reflecting her experiences, including grief. Her early paintings, often sombre and moody, evolved into a more expressive style featuring vivid colours and fluid lines. In the 1930s, Neel moved to New York City, where she became an integral member of the bohemian community in Greenwich Village, and later, in Spanish Harlem. Her portraits from this period capture the diverse tapestry of urban life, including neighbours, artists, activists, and intellectuals.

Neel's career is a testament to her consistent commitment to figurative painting, even as Abstract Expressionism dominated the art world. Her work transcends physical likeness, delving into the psychological and emotional states of her subjects. Neel's portraits reveal the complexities of human experience with a confronting honesty.

In the 1930s, after moving to New York City, Neel immersed herself in the vibrant bohemian community of Greenwich Village and later in Spanish Harlem. Her portraits from this period are notable for their diversity, capturing a wide range of individuals, from artists and activists to neighbours and friends. This period marked a significant evolution in her style, as she began to employ more vivid colours and fluid lines, reflecting the dynamic environment around her.

Describing her approach to portraiture, Neel said “I come under the spell of a person—out of myself into that other”. It is this empathetic and uncompromising approach which defines the artist’s work. Neel’s lively use of colour and bold brushwork create emotionally poignant prints which immerse the viewer in the world of the subject.

Despite facing personal tragedies, including the loss of her first daughter to diphtheria and the separation from her second daughter, Neel channelled her experiences into her art. Her portrayal of people, whether they were close family members or significant cultural figures like Andy Warhol and Eileen Myles, was always marked by a profound trust and insight.

Neel's unwaveringly vulnerable approach to art gained critical recognition. In 1974, she was honoured with a retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art, a monumental moment in her career that affirmed her status as a major American artist. Her work continues to influence contemporary artists, celebrated for its emotional resonance, and the artist's ability to capture the nuances of the human condition.

Neel's work resisted the popularity of Abstract Expressionism, focusing instead on figuration through a range of subjects that included friends, family, strangers, and significant cultural figures. Her incisive portraits often exposed the social and political undercurrents of the 20th century, offering a profound commentary on issues of gender, class, and race. Neel's dedication to portraying the truth of human experience made her a pioneer in the world of figurative painting.
Neel's life was marked by significant personal tragedies, including the death of her first daughter from diphtheria and the subsequent separation from her second daughter, taken by the child's father. These events deeply affected her emotional state and influenced her artwork, leading to a period of hospitalisation due to a psychological breakdown. Nevertheless, Neel channelled her mental health struggles into her art, emerging as a powerful voice that depicted the resilience and vulnerability inherent in the human condition. Her ability to convey emotional depth is a testament to her enduring vulnerability as an artist and as an individual.
Throughout her career, Neel was a vocal advocate for those on the margins of society. Notwithstanding the mainstream art trends of abstraction and minimalism, she remained committed to representational art, often portraying people who were overlooked by society. Her subjects included activists, artists, and neighbours from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds. Neel's empathetic approach to her subjects earned her recognition as an artist who celebrated human diversity, making her work as politically potent as it is artistically profound.