Los Angeles, CA— The word is out! Collectors are already buzzing about Moran’s upcoming Art + Design sale, which will feature a recently discovered, fresh-to-market painting by the American Modernist, Agnes Pelton. Only a handful of canvasses by Pelon’s desirable ‘transcendental desert’ period have come to market in the last 50 years!
“Flowering”, 1929 by Agnes Pelton hung above the fireplace of her home and studio, which is now a historical site, located in Cathedral City, CA.
Agnes Pelton was a trailblazing artist who skillfully merged spiritual and abstract elements in her works. Born in 1881, Pelton spent much of her life exploring the higher consciousness beyond mere appearances and strove to express this relationship between observer and observed through work rich in ethereal symbolism. Created in 1929 at the zenith of her career, Flowering is a stunning example of her visual vocabulary of fluid form, allegorical iconography, and luminescence that were central elements in what would become known as Transcendental Painting. Estimated at $300,000-500,000, the oil painting measures 24” H x 19” W and presents in the original Pelton-designed silver-grey frame. In its day, Flowering was well exhibited in art shows, including 1929 at the Montross Gallery in NYC, 1931 at the Plainfield Public Library, New Jersey, also at the Ogunquit Art Center, Maine and Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover, Massachusetts, and the 1932 Annual Exhibit, Society of Modern Artists, Brooklyn, New York.
Pelton came to California after visiting the state in the late 1920s. A student of Theosophy, Agnes Pelton found her new home in the desert town of Cathedral City. This move was a stark contrast to her life in New York, but more importantly conveyed the depth of inspiration, if not spiritual ecstasy the desert bestowed upon the artist. The relative isolation of the desert kept Pelton insulated in comparison to her contemporaries, but in time Agnes Pelton would become one of the most influential and inspirational female painters of the last century. The acclaimed retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2020 would solidify the artist’s reputation and catapult her into a rarified spotlight alongside Georgia O’Keeffe.
“These pictures are like little windows, opening to the view of a region not yet much visited, consciously or by intention – an inner realm, rather than an outer landscape” – Montross Exhibition Brochure
A plaque from the Cathedral City Historic Preservation Committee at the entrance of Agnes Pelton’s residence and studio.
Flowering has a rich provenance, having passed from the artist through the hands of Pelton’s friends and neighbors, Matille Prigge “Billie” Seaman and then to Josephine Morse True, both of Cathedral City, CA. True moved from Cathedral City to San Diego, CA, where the painting was sold to Mrs. Anne-Marie Boyce in the 1990s. Unseen in public for nearly one hundred years, Flowering was re-discovered by Moran’s during as part of a routine estate consignment walk through, where the storage locker had been scheduled for donation in Tijuana, Mexico.
Beyond its beauty, Flowering is a testament to Pelton’s ability to blend the physical and metaphysical in her art. Her work invites viewers to look beyond the surface and explore the deeper meanings and emotions conveyed through her art. Erika Doss, University of Notre Dame wrote noted Pelton in her work about key women who shaped new ideas in art and writing:
“Pelton continued her spiritual seeking in California, looking for books, the night skies, and fellow believers for mystics and artistic insights…Painting was a devotional practice for Pelton, a means of articulating her spiritual beliefs on modern art terms.”
To learn more, or to register to bid, go to www.johnmoran.com.
— Brenda Smith, John Moran Auctioneers
“Flowering is a stunning example of her visual vocabulary of fluid form, allegorical iconography, and luminescence that were central elements in what would become known as Transcendental Painting.”
Raimonds Staprans (b. 1926), "Blue Skies, Red Paint" $100,000-200,000
Upcoming Auctions
John Moran Auctioneers is continuing their 2024 lineup with the Modern + Contemporary Fine Art auction, Tuesday, June 11th, followed by the ReDesigned sale, Tuesday, June 25th, 2024. Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming auctions so you don’t miss out on the action, and the treasures!
Traditional Collector: Tuesday, July 30th | 12:00 pm PDT
Art + Design: Tuesday, August 13th | 12:00 pm PDT
Art Jewelry & Luxury Online: Tuesday, August 27th | 12:00 pm PDT
Art of the American West: Tuesday, September 10th | 10:00 am PDT
Fine Jewelry & Timepieces: Tuesday, September 17th | 12:00 pm PDT
For upcoming highlights, online catalogues, and more information on these sales, visit Moran’s website: www.johnmoran.com and follow us on social media: @johnmoran_auctioneers. Along with our website, bidding is now available online via Moran’s new mobile app, Moran Mobile, available on both iOS and Android operating systems. You may also choose to bid by phone or absentee.
Consignments are always welcome:
Email us at [email protected] today!
The street signs that make up “Agnes Pelton Way” in Cathedral City, CA.