Description:

Dorothy Ruddick
American, (1925 - 2010)
abstract floral #81, 1973
concentrated watercolor
Signed and dated lower right.

Exhibited: Graham Gallery, NY.

Biography from Myers Fine Art & Antiques Auction Gallery: Dorothy Ruddick was born in Winnetka, Illinois in 1925. As an undergraduate at Radcliffe, she studied art history at the Fogg Museum, and then transferred to Black Mountain College where she studied with Josef Albers.

She has participated in many group exhibitions over the years including The Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Her one-person exhibitions include Allentown Art Museum, Pennsylvania; Steven Harris Architects, New York; and most recently at the Richard York Gallery, New York.

Her work is included in many museum collections, including The Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio; Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania.

In 1998, Dorothy Ruddick took her long fascination with cloth and clothing in a new direction. Her previous portfolio of work consisted of fiber-based abstractions stitched onto linen using silk, cotton, and wool thread. Now the artist has changed her focus to explore the effect of drapery as it encircles the figure, using papier-mch swathed over forms created with polymer modeling compound. Number II is the first enlargement in bronze from this series.

Ruddick has described the paper-mch and polymer sculptures as "lyric poems" and the bronze as an "epic." In both mediums, the attention to drapery and the definition it lends to the form indicates classical references, but the fragmentation and abstract treatment of the form places the work in a contemporary context. The figure is not idealized, yet it retains an alluring and beautiful form that is defined by the loops and folds of the drapery. Rather than appearing broken at the neck, arms, and legs, the sculpture is smooth, indicating that these parts were never a consideration, moving the object towards the abstract realm.

Source:
Dorothyruddick.org

  • Dimensions: 17 5/8"H x 15 5/8"W (sight), 23 7/8"H x 21 5/8"W (frame)
  • Medium: concentrated watercolor

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Professional in house shipping services are available for items. Large and or fragile items will require a third party shipper. Shipping costs will include carrier fees, handling, and insurance. It can take up to 3 - 4 weeks for a shipping invoice to be sent. A low bid purchase price does not mean shipping costs will be any less. The size and weight of a package will impact the cost that the carrier charges. Multiple items will impact the cost of handling. Items that are of high value will require more insurance. Contact Ripley Auctions if you would like a shipping estimate before the auction. Some items may require a third-party shipper. Please let the office know if you would like to pick up your winning bid or arrange your own shipping.

April 29, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
Indianapolis, IN, US

Ripley Auctions

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $199 $20
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $200
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 + $2,500