Artist Bio highlights. 1960s art was a time when second generation Abstract Expressionism was healthy and Pop Art and Minimalism had achieved center stage. For Renee Radell, the loud clashes of American Superpower status, social unrest manifested in race riots in Detroit, and Vietnam War protests collectively provided ample material for a new form of social commentary painting.
Unlike early forms of American Social Realism during the American Industrial Age, Radell’s social commentary was primarily political. Remarkably, this keen observer of societal tides, a young mother from rural Michigan, attracted the attention of mainstream New York gallerists and critical acclaim from an international audience. Critics compared her to Ben Shahn and Jack Levine, and she was often mistaken for a male artist.
(scroll down for Renee Radell 1960s Art timeline)
1960
Expands exhibition record to New York City through participation in group exhibition at ACA Gallery in Manhattan.
1961
Has first one-person exhibition of oil paintings at Garelick Gallery in Detroit, Michigan. Receives critical acclaim both in the local press and abroad in La Revue Moderne , Paris, France. Selects student war protests as early common theme in her 1960s art.
1962
Exhibits extensively in Michigan and Ohio for next several years. • Teaches life drawing and painting part-time at Mercy College of Detroit which continues until her appointment as artist-in-residence several years later.
1964
Has first one person show outside of Michigan, at Kaufman’s Gallery Vendome, Pittsburgh, PA.
1965
Has first one person show in Manhattan at Tasca Gallery in Manhattan. Favorable critical reviews follow in the New York press. • The Chrysler Museum of Art purchases two watercolors for its permanent collection.
1966
Second one-person show at Tasca Gallery. • Participates in numerous group exhibitions In Michigan art venues. • Continues Part-time teaching of life drawing and painting at Mercy College of Detroit, Bloomfield Artists’ Association in Birmingham, Michigan, and the Detroit Palette and Brush Club for several years. • Heavily textured surfaces, and bas relief begin to emerge in Radell’s work.
1967
One-person exhibition at Robert Shuster Gallery in Manhattan. Extensive press coverage and critical acclaim in mainstream New York and Paris press. The Tide, future winner of two international first prizes for painting, positions Radell's 1960s art as noteworthy for curatorial and scholarly examination.
1968
Second one-person exhibition at Robert Shuster Gallery. • One person exhibitions in Michigan, Ohio and Windsor, Ontario, Canada with regional and international press coverage. • Russell Kirk, national newspaper syndicated columnist, initiates his first coverage of Radell’s social commentary paintings. • Accepts invitation from Michigan State Democratic Convention for one-person exhibition at Cobo Hall in Detroit. • The Tide wins 1st prize for painting at Mainstreams Annual International Competition at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. • Has solo exhibition at Philip Hart political rally at Oakland University, Rochester Michigan.
1969
Has third one-person exhibition at Robert Shuster Gallery. Experiments with hard-edge and spray painting technique.
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