Astrid Preston
September 30, 2021 - April 2, 2022
On the Edge: Los Angeles Art, 1970s–1990s, from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection
Bakersfield Museum of Art: 1930 R St. Bakersfield CA 93301 (map) [ website ]
Joan Agajanian Quinn and her late husband Jack represent a key moment in the history of contemporary art, as Los Angeles came to symbolize an innovative and prolific brand of creative freedom. Few individuals have left such an indelible mark on the artistic landscape of Southern California more than Joan and Jack Quinn. Joan found herself both muse and promoter of several Southern California artists, while Jack used his skills as a prominent and influential attorney to help an array of emerging artists and their dealers navigate the worlds of law and business.
Known for her charisma, intelligence and incomparable flamboyance, Joan Agajanian Quinn has served as inspiration for artists such as Robert Mapplethorpe, Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Hockney, Ed Ruscha, Zandra Rhodes, Larry Bell, Frank Gehry, Ed Moses, Helmut Newton, Billy Al Bengston, Antonio Lopez and many others. As artists sought to record her image across a variety of media, Joan Quinn found herself with one of the world’s largest and significant collections of contemporary portraiture — a poignant representation of friendship, appreciation, and respect.
This exhibition highlights the couple’s collection primarily amassed from the 1970s to 1990s. Much of the work was collected directly from the artists and has never changed hands or been shown publicly. Works in the exhibition will explore various themes such as Ferus Group “Cool School,” Gagosian, female artists, Finish Fetish, Documentary, Light and Space/Minimalism, Chicano Art, Pop Art, nature vs. urban landscape, and international artists and influences.
Artist Symposium
Exhibiting artists share their experience of working in Los Angeles during the transformative decades surveyed in On the Edge.