Recent Acquisitions: Works by Tom Wesselmann

Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004) said that he wanted "to make figurative art as exciting as abstract art.” He succeeded. Wesselmann began his career as a cartoonist for mens magazines but his interest in painting led him to concentrate on figurative works.

He was categorized as a Pop artist, a label he was never comfortable with, but a label of the times, and he was surrounded by the Pop artists of the day.

 Last year, a retrospective of Wesselmann’s work was shown at the Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris, along with the works of many of the contemporary artists that he inspired.

Recent acquisitions of Wesselmann’s work at VFA are Smoker, 1976, Still Life with Lichtenstein and Two Oranges, 1993 and Lulu, 1982.

There are things in life that are harder than taking care of the legacy of the world's most famous artist. - Paloma Picasso

An exhibit of fifty rarely seen paintings, sculptures, and drawings by Pablo Picasso are on exhibit at Gagosian Gallery at 980 Madison Ave. The show, presented in collaboration with the artist’s daughter, Paloma Picasso (b.1949), will be the final exhibit at that gallery. Gagosian has been at that location since 1989 and will be moving just a short distance…to a newly renovated building at 976 Madison Avenue.

Some of the works in the exhibit have been in the possession of Paloma Picasso and have never before been shown in public.

Picasso was married twice and had four children with three women. Paloma and her brother, Claude, were born to Picasso and artist Françoise Gilot, to whom he was not married. He died without a will and there was a feud over his estate. Ultimately, a settlement was reached and his estate was divided among widow, Jacqueline, his grandchildren and his children, Maya, Claude and Paloma.

After the publication of Françoise Gilot’s 1964 book Life with Picasso, (which Picasso tried to  legally prevent from being published) he cut off contact with Paloma and Claude and their relationship was never reestablished. 

Paloma went on to make a name for herself as a jewelry designer, best known for her collaborations with Tiffany’s. Her works are also in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian and other museums. 

Paloma has been overseeing her father’s estate since the death of her brother, Claude, two years ago. 

The works in the current exhibit were done between 1896 to 1972, and very few pieces are for sale. Picasso: Tête-à-tête will be on view through July 3, 2025.

 Please contact us if you would like more information about the works of Tom Wesselmann and Pablo Picasso available at VFA.