George Gershwin and Modern Art
The composer, songwriter and pianist George Gershwin was deeply connected to modern art. On the centenary of his masterpiece ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, this striking book appraises his legacy as an artist in his own right, as a collector and as an inspiration to other artists.
Before his untimely death at age 38, Gershwin produced numerous paintings, drawings and photographs. He was also an avid collector of modern art: his collection was one of the most significant of his day, with pieces by Picasso, Modigliani, Kandinsky, Chagall, Noguchi, Siqueiros and others. More recently, Gershwin’s music also inspired artwork by Miguel Covarrubias, Arthur Dove, Kara Walker, Andy Warhol and many others. This beautifully designed volume appraises these three elements of Gershwin’s artistic influence – as artist, collector and inspiration – as well as featuring select ephemera and correspondence from his artistic circle. It offers a tour through Gershwin's multifaceted visual dimension, expanding our understanding of the composer, his music and his impact on American cultural history.
Dr. Olivia Mattis, guest curator, is an award-winning scholar and lecturer who received her PhD in musicology from Stanford University. She is also the president of the Sousa Mendes Foundation, a Holocaust remembrance organisation, honouring the hero who rescued her family from Nazi-occupied Europe.
Courtney A. McNeil is Museum Director and Chief Curator at Artis–Naples, The Baker Museum.
Alexander Shelley is the Sharon and Timothy Ubben Artistic and Music Director Designate of Artis—Naples in Florida.