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Howard Schleeter
Howard Schleeter "Fetishes" 1949 Southwest Modernist Gouache & Wax Painting

1949

$9,200
$11,50020% Off
£6,953.59
£8,691.9920% Off
€8,133.57
€10,166.9720% Off
CA$13,063.24
CA$16,329.0520% Off
A$13,289.84
A$16,612.3020% Off
CHF 7,636.53
CHF 9,545.6620% Off
MX$159,811.33
MX$199,764.1620% Off
NOK 89,155.18
NOK 111,443.9720% Off
SEK 89,688.90
SEK 112,111.1320% Off
DKK 60,802.69
DKK 76,003.3620% Off

About the Item

Howard Schleeter (American, 1903–1976) Fetishes, 1949 Gouache and wax on paper Signed and dated lower right Framed dimensions: 25½ × 31½ × 1 inches A remarkable example of mid-century American Modernism, Fetishes is an original 1949 gouache and wax painting by influential Southwest artist Howard Schleeter. Created during the height of his mature career, this richly textured composition blends abstract figuration, symbolic imagery, and modernist experimentation into a powerful expression of the American Southwest. The composition features bold, simplified forms and symbolic figures arranged in a rhythmic interplay of color, shape, and surface. Schleeter's use of gouache and wax creates a distinctive matte texture and depth, allowing layers of pigment and material to build a sense of mystery and visual complexity. The work balances abstraction with recognizable references, reflecting the artist's fascination with Indigenous symbolism, spiritual traditions, and the cultural landscape of New Mexico. Rather than depicting the Southwest through traditional landscape imagery, Schleeter transformed its visual and spiritual vocabulary into a modernist language of geometric forms, symbolic figures, and expressive color. Fetishes exemplifies the artist's ability to merge regional subject matter with the broader developments of twentieth-century abstraction, placing it within the important tradition of Southwestern Modernism and American Regional Modernism. Howard Schleeter was a significant figure in the development of modern art in the American Southwest. After moving to New Mexico in 1929, he became part of the region's vibrant artistic community and developed a distinctive style that combined modernist innovation with the imagery, materials, and spiritual atmosphere of the Southwest. His work from the 1940s and 1950s represents a mature period in which he explored abstraction, symbolism, and mixed-media techniques. This painting is especially notable for its original artist-designed frame, which was created by Schleeter himself. The hand-crafted presentation enhances the work's historical importance, preserving the artist's intended relationship between image, material, and display. With its exceptional surface quality, symbolic depth, and connection to one of the most important regional modernist movements in America, Fetishes is an outstanding opportunity for collectors of Taos art, Southwestern art, American Modernism, abstract figurative painting, and mid-century works on paper. Condition: Good vintage condition. Presented in the artist-created frame. Detailed condition report available upon request.
  • Creator:
    Howard Schleeter (1903-1976, American)
  • Creation Year:
    1949
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 25.5 in (64.77 cm)Width: 31.5 in (80.01 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Medium:
    Wax,Gouache
  • Movement & Style:
    American Modern
  • Period:
    1940-1949
  • Framing:
    Frame Included
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Denver, CO
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 156461stDibs: LU2732523771

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