U.Va. Art Museum Exhibits Works by Abstract Impressionist Hedda Sterne

abstract painting of a machine

Hedda Sterne, Romanian-born/American, b 1916, "Machine 5," 1950

Jan. 2, 2007 -- Born in Romania in 1916, Hedda Sterne had an impressive career beginning in the late 1930s, when she exhibited with the Surrealists in Paris. She attained national prominence in the 1940s and 1950s, exhibiting with the Abstract Expressionists, including Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko.  Sterne was, in fact, the only woman photographed with a group of the Abstract Expressionists, who were given the title "the Irascibles" in Time magazine.

Yet despite her body of work, which continues to the present, Sterne has been almost completely overlooked in art historical narratives of the post-war American art scene.  "Uninterrupted Flux: Hedda Sterne, A Retrospective" aims to right that wrong. This major retrospective brings together almost 100 works from museums across the country and Sterne's own collection, and highlights notable periods in her artistic career. Prominence is given to Sterne's Machine and Spray Roads paintings, portraits, installations and recent drawings.

The exhibition, on display from Jan. 12 to March 11 at the University of Virginia Art Museum, is curated by Sarah Eckhardt, and was first exhibited at the Krannert Art Museum at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana from January through March 2006, while Eckhardt was a graduate student at the University of Illinois. The University of Virginia Art Museum is the only other venue for this groundbreaking show. 'Uninterrupted Flux' is made possible at the University of Virginia with the support of the Arts Enhancement Fund, Art$ and museum members.

Exhibition curator Sarah Eckhardt will present a gallery talk on Friday, Jan. 26, at 5 p.m.  The museum's Final Friday reception follows until 7:30 p.m.

A catalogue produced by the Krannert Art Museum accompanies the exhibition.
Sponsored in part by the Arts Enhancement Fund and Art$.

In addition, a Family Art JAM on "Exploring Modern Art" will be held at the museum on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m.

For more information contact the University of Virginia Art Museum at (434) 924-3592.

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