Lot 25
American (1951-2022)
Untitled (1980)
Medium

pastel and colored pencil on black paper

Dimensions

sheet: 19½ x 25½ inches

Signature

initialed lower right

Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000

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Frame Information

frame dimensions: 23 1/2 x 29 x 1 3/4 inches, wood frame with acrylic glazing

Provenance

From the Estate of Janet Cooling

Condition

overall good condition, pinholes to corners, with very minor losses to upper edge

Janet Cooling

American 1951-2022
Image for Artist Janet Cooling

Janet Cooling was a pioneering figurative painter known for integrating lesbian and feminist themes into her work during the 1970s and '80s. She received her B.F.A. from Pratt Institute in 1973 and an M.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1975. Cooling began her career at Artemisia Gallery in Chicago, immersing herself in feminist and lesbian art circles. As one of the first openly lesbian artists in the American art world, she gained recognition through her participation in the 1982 New Museum exhibition "Extended Sensibilities: Homosexual Presence in Contemporary Art."

Her early work, associated with the "Post-Imagist" movement, featured erotic drawings of women and apocalyptic large-scale paintings. Cooling's art evolved in the 1990s to include vibrant depictions of female bodybuilders, showcased in exhibitions like the New Museum's "Picturing the Modern Amazon'' in 2000. She taught at San Diego State University from 1984 until 2013, influencing many through her dedication to feminist and LGBTQ+ visibility in art. Cooling's work is celebrated in key feminist and lesbian art publications, cementing her legacy as a transformative figure in contemporary art.

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ArtBridge is actively transforming NYC’s 300+ miles of construction fencing into large-scale art exhibitions. Their installations don’t merely beautify — they uplift local communities, often by partnering artists with community stakeholders to create neighborhood-specific public artworks. In a city that never stops rebuilding, ArtBridge converts building sites and disused urban spaces into cultural assets, giving artists an unprecedented platform to show their work, informed by the communities they serve.