Alexander Hogue- The Crucified Land 1939
Several years ago, I wrote a post about the work of Alexander Hogue, an American Regionalist painter whose work I felt was at the same level as that of Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton, though he never achieved the wider fame of these two. I know I knew nothing of his work before stumbling across his name on the site of a gallery that I was associated with at the time in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Hogue had spent the last half of his long life, dying in 1994 at the age of 96.
Alexander Hogue- Mother Earth Laid Bare
His work was a stunning find for me. The imagery is bold and powerful. His color palette was strong and unique, with deep saturated colors often alongside ethereal, wispy colors . His depictions of the southwestern landscape possess a profound sense of place and spirit, filling what might seem like an otherwise desolate scene with a quality of humanity. His dust bowl scenes from the 30’s are spectacular visions.
Alexander Hogue –Eroded Lava Badlands Alpine 1982
So, I was thrilled when I read that the exhibit, Alexander Hogue: An American Visionary was opening this week at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art in nearby Corning. The Rockwell is an unexpected gem for the visitor to this region, a treasure trove of the largest collection of Western art east of the Mississippi where Hogue’s wonderful work will feel at home, although I feel his work is powerful enough to stand among any painter from the last century. This exhibit displays work from across the many years of his long career, with works from the 1920’s up to near the end of his life. Hogue worked until his death, which I find reassuring.
Here’s a video from the show’s curator, Susan Kalil. I love how she describes the attachment of the owners of Hogue’s paintings to the work. I really urge you, if you are in the Corning area this fall, to stop into the Rockwell to see this show.
Your earlier focus on Hogue led my wife and I to the museum to see his work when it came to town. We are small-scale farmers, living in the modern drought and recession, and his Dust Bowl work was very moving to us: http://fourstringfarm.me/2012/08/26/making-it/
And we love the Big Bend country, which he captures so perfectly. Thanks again for turning us on to this work.
I remember you responding to that first post and how happy I was that Hogue’s work really struck home for you. It’s just marvelous work to see. Thanks!
On Mon, Sep 23, 2013 at 8:02 AM, Redtree Times
When I opened the post this morning, my first thought was “Benton”. My second was that Mellencamp could easily have used the first painting as cover art for his “Scarecrow” album.
Hogue’s art is compelling. I’m hoping to head up to Kansas City next month to see family, and if I do I’m planning to re-route myself through Bentonville, Arkansas to see the Crystal Bridge museum. It’s not impossible that they have a Hogue – I intend to find out.
If you can re-route yourself through Tulsa, OK, the Gilcrease Museum is the permanent home of Hogue’s “Crucified Land” (currently on loan to the Rockwell). I haven’t been there in over forty years yet I still remember being impressed by its collection (including 18 of Frederic Remington’s 22 bronzes!).
Thanks for the tip! Their site’s quite interesting, and it might be doable. If I don’t make it on this trip, I surely could in the spring, and the Hogue might be back home by then.