Alton Pickens Mixed Media on Paper

Alton Pickens, American 1917-1991

The work of American artist Alton Pickens, explores play in an eery light. Influenced by the artists of the Great Depression, he studied print making at Reed College in Oregon. His transition to oil paint was largely self-taught through hours spent with the work of Goya, Bonnard, and Beckman. He noted The Met and MoMA as instrumental to his development. Both museums have his work in their permanent collections, with MoMA including Pickens in eighteen exhibits since 1944. This piece is in charcoal, pastel, and paint on paper.