The Bold And Vibrant: Pop Art And The Post-War Society

Life after the war changed people dramatically. Affluence became the goal of the average citizen and consumerism became a lifestyle. The post-war manufacturing and media boom gave way to brands and icons that people associate with their daily needs. The changes in society blurred the distinction between classes, a phenomenon demonstrated in the art of that time.

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The traumatized society was keen on finding enjoyment in simple pleasures. Enjoying “high” art that was abstract and serious didn’t seem to be what the public was looking for. Though critics praised it, the movement failed to influence majority of the audiences. Some artists also felt alienated from this movement and went on to create straightforward and accessible art. With this came artworks done in the style of commercial billboards and comics, which were quickly accepted by the masses.

In a recovering society, art doesn’t need to be complicated. The message can be communicated by showing what is familiar. The famous works of Lichtenstein and Warhol became iconic because they lifted mundane parts of a person’s daily life and showed these in a new light. Perhaps the commonality of these works was the same aspect that made people understand their new experience.

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To this day, many still enjoy Pop art. Accessible and easily reproduced, the original artworks have taken on different forms. From prints to clothing, these works have shown that good art is also for the enjoyment of the masses.

Mark Borghi Fine Art showcases an extensive collection of work from Post-War American, Contemporary, and European Modern artists. For more information, visit this page.

The Life And Times Of Jackson Pollock

Any art enthusiast knows Jackson Pollock’s name is synonymous with abstract expressionism, though he is most famous for his unique method, commonly referred to as drip painting. He was as controversial as he was famous (as like many famous artists). Pollock was a recluse, known for his temper and penchant for drink.

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In 1945, Pollock married Lee Krasner, a fellow artist. She proved to be very significant in Pollock’s life story as Krasner became a major influence on his career, and his legacy. In fact, a huge number of art experts and historians debate on who ended up influencing who in their marriage. A number of art experts opined that Krasner copied and repurposed Pollock’s chaotic pieces, and branded them her own. In fact, it was often observed by members of the art community that Krasner had a problem separating her own work from her husband’s.

Jackson Pollock died from a car-crash that resulted from drunk driving in 1956. He was only 44 years old. His works, though, were quickly recognized as they were exhibited in the Musuem of Modern Art a few months after his burial. Eleven years later, in 1967, the Museum of Modern Art held a bigger Jackson Pollock exhibit. Decades later, in 1998, his works were shown once again in the Museum of Modern Art, and at London’s The Tate in 1999.

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Mark Borghi Fine Art was founded in New York City in 1998. Borghi opened two more galleries – one is Bridgehampton, New York, in 2004, and another in Palm Springs, Florida, in 2011. Check out this Twitter page for exhibit updates and artist writeups.

Divine Worldliness: 'Beyond Secretary' Re-Examines Feminine Power

Feminism has come a long way, but as a principle, it could never descend into banality. Mark Borghi Fine Art taps into the timelessness of the feminist conversation through Beyond Secretary, a group exhibit that narrates the divine archetypes of the feminine: Goddess, Queen, Priestess, Warrioress, etc.

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Indeed, the modern woman has, in comparison to bygone eras, succeeded in integrating the public sphere such as the workplace, politics, and even celebrity. The normalization of such feminine power sometimes neglects the historical path of the fairer sex toward recognition and could still be oftentimes subject to the condescension of patriarchy. Beyond Secretary, a show that concluded last December, reminds audiences that the feminine power cannot be suppressed. Despite the systemic advantages accorded to the masculine, the woman inhabits primordial, divine roles that cannot be overwhelmed by manmade sexual politics.

Such divine roles are represented by paintings of objects that are the woman’s alone to wield. These roles, however, are not divorced from everyday realities. The woman, as a secretary, is neither written off nor begged to be much more than her professional station. She is, rather, given more value for her sex through a recollection of her natural roles, despite the unapologetic misogyny that accompanies industrialization.

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Curated by Jenny Mushkin Goldman and featuring the works of artists such as Mie Yim, Rebecca Goyette, Sarah Sole, and Rachel Debuque, among others, Beyond Feminism remains a notable call toward gender equality.

Know more about the above exhibit through the Mark Borghi Fine Art website.