From our archives

Oil on canvas, 6 1/2 x 11 1/2, in.

June 1 – 16, 2013
Saturdays and Sundays 1 to 5 pm and by appointment through August
Opening reception Saturday, June 1st, 1 to 5 pm

BEDMINSTER, PA — The Studio of Ben Solowey announces a new exhibition, Bathers by Ben Solowey, featuring paintings, drawings, and sculptures of bathers from over a half century of the renown artist’s career. “Ben Solowey drew on the classical tradition of representing the idealized nude in an idyllic landscape, and understood how the Moderns like Cézanne broke with convention to conjure new visions of earthly paradise. Ben personalized the theme to create signature artworks,” says David Leopold, Director of the Solowey Studio.  Bathers by Ben Solowey will open to the public on Saturday June 1st at the Solowey Studio in Bedminster, PA with a reception from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit will continue Saturdays and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., through June 16th and then by appointment through August.

Bathers by Ben Solowey features the wide range of media that Ben Solowey mastered over his sixty year career including oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, and sculpture. “The theme of the bathers reappears throughout Ben’s work from the 1920s on,” says Leopold. “In this show you will see his homage to Cézanne, as well as his variations of it. These works, in a wide variety of media, also provide insight into his relationship with women. At first there are a number of female bathers in his art, but eventually there is just one: his wife, Rae. She came to represent almost all feminine beauty in his work, and the paintings, drawings, and sculpture reveal respect, admiration, and most of all love between artist and model.

Visiting Bathers by Ben Solowey, “there is the thrill of seeing these masterpieces where they were created, in Solowey’s spacious studio,” exclaims Leopold, “which maintains the atmosphere of the artist at work.” The inviting studio, and the beautiful property it sits on, were created and landscaped by Solowey after he left New York in 1942. The Studio has been featured in Architectural Digest, Pennsylvania Heritage, The Discerning Traveler, and Bucks County Town and Country Living.

“In honor of our opening on June 1st we will continue our tradition of serving homemade refreshments in the Solowey home, “ says Leopold. “The two hundred-year old farmhouse was restored by Ben and is filled with museum quality furniture handcrafted by him. This will be the only time we open the house this year, so this truly is a special event.” Regular admission to Bathers by Ben Solowey is $5. Hours are Saturdays and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. through June 16th, and by appointment through August.

Watercolor on paper.

Oil on canvas, 36 x 48 in, 1966

Pencil on paper, 16 x 24 in. (with mat)

Oil on canvas, 30 x 36 in., 1938

Plaster, c. 1976

Oil and canvas, 20 x 24 in, 1930

This work was on the easel when Ben met Rae in april 1930. Read the story of their historic first meeting here.

Pencil on paper, 8 1/2 x 11 in, c. 1932