DAN DICKEY (1910-1961)

My biography of the artist may be downloaded from the Journal of San Diego History.

One of San Diego's greatest and most influential artists, active as a painter, etcher, pastelist, sculptor and teacher. Born in NYC on March 17, 1910. Dickey studied with Leon Kroll, Hans Hofmann, John Sloan, George Bridgman at the Art Institute of Chicago, National Academy of Design and Art Students League in New York City. After touring Europe with his family Dickey returned to Chicago where he briefly worked as a commercial artist. He became associated with the art colony painting at the Century of Progress Exposition in 1933-34. After the fair he jumped a boxcar and headed for San Diego's exposition where he arrived in 1935. He worked on the Federal Art Project from 1937 to 1939 and his work in both painting and sculpture started to receive awards beginning in 1938. He was married to the local artists Ethel Greene and Melisse Jewell, the latter serving as model and muse for many of his figurative works. Their home in Pacific Beach was the result of a collaboration with noted architect Sim Bruce Richards. He also taught classes at the Fine Arts Gallery (SDMA) and the Coronado School of Fine Arts. He died in San Diego on Nov. 2, 1961.

Member: Laguna Beach Art Association; California Watercolor Society. Exhibitions: Oakland Art Gallery, 1937, 1938, 1942; San Francisco Museum of Art, 1938, 1939; Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939; Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art, 1938, 1945; San Diego Art Guild, 1940s; San Diego Fine Arts Gallery, 1948 (solo); Los Angeles Art Association, 1940s; La Jolla Art Center, 1959 (solo).

Spring - 1940

Ink on paper, 13 x 8", mounted on 14-3/4 x 11" black card stock by artist. Signed, titled and dated 1940. Label verso from San Francisco Art Association Exhibition of Drawings and Prints, SF Museum of Art, Jan 29-Feb 18 with artist's name, address, title of work, and medium. Framed.

October-November, 1951

Oil on board, 16 x 20", signed and dated, 1951. Title and date inscribed verso. Collection label attached verso from The Art Center in La Jolla, 700 Prospect Street, 1961.

Provenance: Collection of The Art Center in La Jolla (in 1971 the name was changed to The La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art)

Blue Woman

Mixed media on Strathamore Artist paper, 14-1/2 x 11-1/2", signed and dated, 1938. Framed.