Napa Valley Museum Yountville announces the opening of
“Lowell Herrero: Origins of an Original”
In the Main Gallery June 2, 2018 through August 19, 2018
Opening Reception June 2 at 5:00 pm.
Yountville, CA. On the 10th anniversary of the Museum’s last Herrero exhibit, the Napa Valley Museum Yountville will present “Lowell Herrero: Origins of an Original,” a comprehensive exhibition depicting the life, work, and influences of the Napa Valley’s iconic “Lavender Man” artist. The exhibit is organized by Herrero’s widow and business partner Janet Herrero, and curated by noted St. Helena artist Jennifer Garden. The Opening Reception will be on Saturday June 2 at 5:00 pm, and is free for Museum members; $20 for Non-Members.
Lowell Herrero: Origins of an Original provides a chronological sampling of Herrero’s work that spans a lifetime of colorful description. The exhibit includes historic photographs and early examples of his illustrative work, including bold caricatures of Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, created before Herrero was enrolled at the California College of Arts and Crafts in the mid-1940’s. A selection of commercial work from the firm Butte, Herrero & Hyde in San Francisco of the 1950-60’s, and as a freelancer through the 1970’s and 80’s, demonstrate Herrero’s accomplishments as a commercial artist prior to his transition in 1982 to fine artist. The exhibit explores the strong influence of Picasso, Matisse and Van Gogh on Herrero’s life and work, while demonstrating Herrero’s perfection of his own unique style, which incorporated pointillism, distortion and a naiveté that set him apart from his contemporaries.
The exhibition also compares Herrero’s work to that of some of his accomplished artist friends, pairing paintings by Nathan Oliveira and Louis and Lundy Siegriest with select Herrero studies. An abundant collection of Herrero’s signature paintings will be on display, including robust figures at work harvesting in fields of lavender, cranberry bogs and vineyards, a monumental portrait of Monet, a more subdued portrait of Picasso, and a popular portrait of three voluptuous lady bathers. Herrero’s joy, simplicity, sense of humor and extreme human kindness were clearly reflected in his work and life, which spanned the period 1921-2015.
“We are all deeply honored to celebrate this 10th anniversary of our last Museum retrospective of the work of Lowell Herrero, while being a bit misty-eyed that our friend is not here with us to celebrate his vibrant life and body of work, and the influences that led him to become such iconic Napa Valley artist,” says Museum Executive Director Laura Rafaty. “This exhibit would not be possible without the participation of Janet Herrero, whose vision for the project and passion for the subject have inspired us all. And we are also fortunate to have the curatorial expertise of Jennifer Garden, who curated the Museum’s last Herrero exhibit with Lowell’s active participation, and who is herself an accomplished artist. Together Jennifer and Janet have created an exhibit we think would make Lowell proud, and which will provide his many fans with a deeper understanding of his work and life, both of which were full of color and humor and love.”
The exhibit will run from on June 2, 2018 through August 19, 2018 in the Museum’s upstairs Main Gallery. Museum Admission is $10 Adult; $5 Seniors (65 and older) and Kids under 16; Admission is Free for Museum Members, residents of the California Veterans Home and Active Duty Military. The opening reception will be on Saturday June 2 at 5:00 pm, and is free for Museum members; $20 for non-members, with tickets available through the Museum’s website.
The Napa Valley Museum Yountville is located at 55 Presidents Circle in Yountville, and is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 to 4 pm. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural fabric of our community through exhibitions, collections, educational programs and creative activities that promote knowledge and understanding of art, nature and history. For more information, call 707.944.0500, email [email protected], or visit the website at www.napavalleymuseum.org.