HELEN DUNHAM

(American, 1911-1994)

STILL-LIFE

Oil on Canvas

28 x 22 Inches

Signed Lower Center 'Dunham'
Provenance: San Francisco Museum of Art

(Accession No. D101446)

Exhibited: San Francisco Women Artists 21st Annual Exhibition, November 8-December 1, 1946

President's Purchase Prize Winner

Born in Medford, Oregon, Helen Dunham moved to San Francisco, CA in 1934. After her move, she studied art under Alexander Archipenko and Hans Hofmann at the California School of Fine Arts.  Known for her oil paintings and serigraphs, Dunham primarily exhibited in the San Francisco Bay Area. Helen Dunham’s Still-Life was the President’s Prize winner at the 1946 San Francisco Museum of Arts 21st exhibition of the San Francisco Women Artists Association and the work was acquired by the museum at that time. It has remained in the museum’s collection for over sixty years.  Recently de-accessioned, this lyrical work represents an unusual opportunity to acquire a significant and decorated modernist painting with impeccable museum provenance.

Reference:

Artists in California 1786-1940, Hughes, Vol. I, p, 331; Davenport’s Art Reference Guide, 2007/8 Edition, p. 765; Artnet.com; AskArt.com; et al.