The former Frenchie shop on Broadway has been reborn as a fine art gallery, Modern Art West. The gallery is owned by David Keaton, husband of Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Executive Director Linda Keaton.
According to Keaton, the gallery’s focus is on the art of the San Francisco Bay Area from the 1940s to the 1970s with an emphasis on the teachers and students orbiting the major art schools in the area.
The gallery shows Bay Area paintings, sculptures and works on paper from the modern and post-war periods. Keaton has focused on historical California art movements and in particular Abstract Expressionism with a focus on women artists.
“The art scene of the San Francisco Bay Area during this period was one of the most dynamic centers of creation in the 20th century,” said Keaton. “Many of the most noted artists have fallen from public prominence while others enjoy international attention today.”
Keaton plans to highlight some of the more well-known artists but most especially the talented artists who have slipped from public view.
Keaton told the Index-Tribune that although this gallery is a new space he has been “deeply involved“ in the modern art world for almost 20 years, and even longer with the California photography world.
“I have a consulted with artists, artist estates, galleries and major museums and also researched and curated a number of historical exhibitions,” he said. Keaton is also a life-long photographer who is currently on contract with the Getty photo agency.
Modern Art West is launching with two shows: one of large scale abstract paintings by Sam Tchakalian; the second of 15 works on paper by a group of artists including Richard Diebenkorn, Elmer Bischoff, David Park, Joan Brown and others.
Keaton said that Modern Art West works closely with several artists’ estates and major collections.
Prices for works on display range from $750 into the tens of thousands on up.
Modern Art West will promote the visual arts in Sonoma by contributing to local educational efforts and supporting regional art initiatives, Keaton said, adding that a percentage of profits from each sale at Modern Art West will go to local nonprofits.
The gallery at 521 Broadway is now open by appointment. modernartwest.com.
Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.
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