Opening on July 13 and running through September 7 is an exhibition of watercolors and paintings by Jozef Bakos, an important Santa Fe modernist  and his “circle” of contemporary  painters. Part of this circle were the historic Santa Fe art group “Los Cinco Pintores.” This band of artists is recognized as the first modernist art group in New Mexico. The young members were artists all under the age of 30 who rebelled against the academic traditions in art.  The local southwest landscape and people filled their paintings, combining tradition with abstraction. They used a very colorful palette with uncomplicated composition.  Jozef Bakos, Willard Nash, Fremont Ellis, Walter Mruk and Will Shuster were the official members.

The mix of artists in the 20’s and 30’s evolved into fraternities: academic realism, modernist representation and experimentation.  There were class biases between artists with European training and  those without.  Friendships sometimes jumped the fence that influenced each other’s work. Bakos created a wide circle within these fraternities of commraderie.

Bakos used the palette of Gauguin and the shapes and forms of Cezanne to create hi own unique style. He received national recognition by being invited to exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago in their show “Half a Century of American Painting” as the only New Mexican artist included.  Hi works were shown in The Whitney Museum of American Art, the Pan American Exhibition (Los Angeles, 1926), the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Corcoran Museum and the Carnegie Institute.

Jozef Bakos was a great promoter of the arts in Santa Fe.  He and his wife, the Italian countess Teresa Di Locci Di Lanti opened their home on Camino del Monte Sol to a wide array of artists  for wonderful discussions and parties. He seemed to be in the  middle of everything.   He taught art at Santa Fe High School for 30 years and was well loved for his devotion to his students. He was also a committee member of the annual Fiesta shows at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe.

Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 11:00 to 5 PM

Addison Rowe Fine Art

229 e. Marcy St.

Santa Fe, NM 87501

505.982.1533 fax 505.983.6351

addart@addisonrowe.com

Press Release:

Contact: Victoria Addison

June 13, 2012

Opening on July 13

Jozef Bakos and His Circle