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Born in Aledo, Illinois, Doris Lee was one of the most recognized artists in the country during the 1930s and 1940s and a leading figure at the Woodstock Art Colony. In response to the rise of abstract expressionism, Lee deftly absorbed artistic innovations into a continuation of her own visual style. Now, a new exhibition of her body of work, Simple Pleasures, reveals her remarkable ability to merge abstraction with the appeal of the everyday, offering a distinctive visual identity that successfully bridged various artistic “camps” that arose in the post–World War II era.
Simple Pleasures presents the first major critical assessment of Lee’s works and will include over 70 works by the artist spanning the 1930s through the 1960s from both public and private collections. The exhibition features paintings, drawings, prints, and commercial designs in fabric and pottery. A selection of ephemera, such as product advertisements by companies that commissioned images from Lee, will also be included. A richly illustrated, full-color catalogue with four essays accompanies the exhibition and will be available in the museum store.
Simple Pleasures: The Art of Doris Lee is organized by The Westmoreland Museum of American Art and co-curated by Barbara L. Jones, Chief Curator of The Westmoreland, and Melissa Wolfe, Curator of American Art, Saint Louis Art Museum. The exhibition is generously supported by The Henry Luce Foundation, The Barrie A. and Deedee Wigmore Foundation, The Richard C. von Hess Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Fine Foundation and the Hillman Exhibition Fund of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.
Our Sponsors
Supporting sponsor: The Molyneaux Family in memory of Dan A. Molyneaux
Media Sponsor: QC Media Partners
Companion Events
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Thursday, February 24In person & VirtualJoin Barbara L. Jones and Melissa Wolfe, co-curators of Simple Pleasures: The Art of Doris Lee, for an in-person conversation about the exhibition. THIS PROGRAM WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 3, BUT HAS BEEN MOVED TO FEBRUARY 24.
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Saturday, February 26VirtualJoin us for this family-flexible virtual enrichment experience sponsored by Eye Surgeons Associates, PC. Your free online registration grants your family two weeks of access to a virtual line-up related to artist Doris Lee.
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Saturday, February 26Figge Art MuseumJoin us in person for FREE FAMILY DAY at the Figge sponsored by Eye Surgeons Associates, PC. Enjoy FREE admission all day, explore the galleries, and enjoy live art making in the studios with art projects inspired by artist Doris Lee.
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Thursday, March 10VirtualJoin Emily Moore, former Archival Assistant at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), for an exploration of the Doris Lee Archive, housed in the NMWA’s Library and Research Center.
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Tuesday, April 19Figge Art MuseumFigge members are invited to join Figge Assistant Curator Vanessa Sage on an exclusive tour of Simple Pleasures: The Art of Doris Lee. Members will have the opportunity to admire the incredible talent of Doris Lee.
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Thursday, April 21Figge Art MuseumIn celebration of the Simple Pleasures exhibition, join us for an evening inspired by the community of artists active in Woodstock, New York, during the 1930s and 1940s. Come early to enjoy a cash bar from 5-7:30 p.m.
Thursday October 31st