Katherine Bradford in Seattle, WA

I had just returned from seeing a great group of shows in NYC, and always have a bit of an adjustment period settling into my studio, getting going on my own work, and figuring out how I’m going to share all that I had just seen with you, my dear readers. I saw that the Frye Art Museum in Seattle was having the first museum survey of Katherine Bradford’s work the next week. I couldn’t believe it!

The last truly amazing art show I had seen at the Frye was the Henry Darger show when I first arrived in Seattle in 2006. I signed up immediately for opening night of Flying Woman: The Paintings of Katherine Bradford. It opened last night; it is fabulous! The canvases are big, bold, and bright, and the work fills the space just perfectly.

Woman Flying, 1999
Oil on canvas drop cloth
Portland Museum of Art

I have followed Bradford’s work since 2016 when I first saw her work in Miami. I’ve written three blog posts about her, including her subway tile installation. I continue to marvel at how prolific and fabulous she is.

Woman in Water, 1999
Oil on canvas
Courtesy of the artist
Group Swim, 2004
Acrylic on canvas
Jorge M. Perez Collection, Miami
Two Tables, 2001
Oil on canvas
Collection of the Farnsworth Art Museum
Mother Ship, 2006
Oil on canvas
Private collection
Sargasso, 2021
Oil on canvas
Adam Beckerman and Beth Lee
Ferry Boat, 2009
Oil on canvas
Worcester Art Museum
Ship Shelf Harbor, ca. 2014
Acrylic on wood
Courtesy of artist
Superman Shelf Painting, 2014
Acrylic on canvas and wood
Collection of Paul Hertz and James Rauchman
Super Flyer, 2013
Oil on canvas
Erica J. Hickey
Green Tie, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
Collection of the Norman Museum of Contemporary Art, Johnson Country Community College, Overland Park, Kansas
Left: Wedding Ceremony, 2019
Acrylic on canvas
Collection of Sarah Handler and Vinny Dotolo

Right: Stripe People with Arms, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
Courtesy Rubell Museum, Miami
Fear of Waves, 2015
Oil on canvas
Collection of Peggy and Danny Camden, Los Angeles
Pond Swimmers, 2016
Acrylic on canvas
Private collection
Captain, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
Courtesy of Stephanie and John Connaughton

It was so exciting to see a crowd out in Seattle seeing this amazing work. I was really on the lookout to see if Bradford was there, but never saw her. I could pick her out of a crowd anywhere. Then later last night, an artist I follow in Seattle posted a photo of himself together with her at the show. I’m super jealous. I would have definitely told her how much I’ve adored her work for years, invited her for dinner, asked if she needed a new BFF. Just kidding, but I would definitely have told her that I am one of her greatest fans.

All of Us, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
Collection of Gina and Jacky Aizenman
Boxer under Lights, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
Joseph M. Cohen Family Collection, New York
Yellow Dress, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
Private collection, Miami
Fear of Shoes, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
Hall Collection, Courtesy Hall Art Foundation
Heaven and Earth, 2019
Acrylic on canvas
The Collection of Edwin Oostmeijer
Lunch Painting, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
The Collection of Edwin Oostmeijer
Leap Frog, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
Levy-Westhead Family Collection
Lifting Sitter, 2018
Acrylic on canvas
Collection of Michael M. Cowman and Kevin Fink, Dallas
Motherhood, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
Courtesy of Brian and Karen Conway
Pink on Black Group, 2022
Acrylic on canvas
Frye Art Museum
Fear of Dark, 2020
Acrylic on canvas
Bowdoin College Museum of Art
Mother Joins the Circus – Second Version, 2021
Acrylic on canvas
Courtesy of the Silverstein Family

I had seen a few of these paintings before at Bradford’s amazing Mother’s Paintings show at Canada NYC. It’s exciting to see them again, and find out who purchased them. You can read my blog post about that show here.

Push Pull, 2019
Acrylic on canvas
Private collection, New York

I came home with the show catalog to add to my ever growing art book collection. If you live in the PNW, you must come see this show. I’ll be going back multiple times. It runs through May 14, 2023.

3 thoughts on “Katherine Bradford in Seattle, WA

  1. Yes, happened to be at the Frye this afternoon, and she was giving a “walk thru”.
    Terrific show…..very lucky to see her, and loved her work.

    1. Wow! I’m jealous! She’s awesome. So glad you loved her work. I was going to ask you if you wanted to go with me, but now you’ve already been!

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