Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Marcia Hafif Biography
Marcia Jean Hafif, born Marcia Jean Woods on August 15, 1929, in Pomona, California, was an American painter renowned for her contributions to the field of monochromatic painting and her association with the Radical Painting Group. Her career, spanning over six decades, was marked by a relentless exploration of color, surface, and the materiality of paint, establishing her as a pivotal figure in the post-war American art scene.
Hafif's early life in California laid the foundation for her artistic journey. After graduating from Pomona College in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, she embarked on a path that would see her traverse continents and artistic movements. Her initial foray into the art world saw her working as an occasional assistant at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, a hub for avant-garde artists. This experience immersed her in the vibrant Los Angeles art scene of the 1950s, a period that would significantly influence her later work.
In 1961, Hafif moved to Rome, drawn by her fascination with Renaissance painting. This period was crucial in her development as an artist, as she began to experiment with abstract works and had several gallery shows in Italy. Her time in Europe was marked by a deep engagement with the material and conceptual possibilities of painting, leading to the creation of works that channeled the "groovy hedonism" of the era with elegance and panache. Despite the prevailing sentiment in the mid-1960s that painting had exhausted its possibilities, Hafif was among the artists who challenged this notion, arguing for the medium's capacity for renewal and innovation.
Hafif's return to the United States in 1969 marked a new phase in her career. She enrolled in the M.F.A. program at the University of California, Irvine, where she earned her degree in 1971. It was during this time that she began to focus more intently on monochromatic painting, a direction that would come to define her work. Hafif's monochromes, characterized by their meticulous attention to the nuances of color and texture, were not merely visual experiences but invitations to contemplate the very essence of painting.
Throughout the 1970s and beyond, Hafif's work gained recognition for its rigorous exploration of color and its meditative quality. She was instrumental in forming the Radical Painting Group, alongside Joseph Marioni, Olivier Mosset, and Erik Saxon, which advocated for a renewed abstraction focused on the fundamental elements of painting. Her theoretical contributions, notably her essay "Beginning Again" published in Artforum in 1978, articulated a vision for a "synthetic period" of abstraction that would rejuvenate the medium.
Despite being overlooked by many art institutions for much of her career, Hafif's work began to receive the recognition it deserved in her later years. Her paintings were included in significant exhibitions, such as the 2014 edition of the Hammer Museum’s Made in L.A. biennial, and she had major solo exhibitions in Europe and the United States. Her work is held in collections worldwide, including The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Marcia Hafif passed away on April 17, 2018, at the age of 88. Her legacy is that of an artist who, through her unwavering commitment to the exploration of painting, challenged and expanded the boundaries of the medium. Hafif's work continues to inspire artists and scholars, serving as a testament to the enduring power and potential of painting.
Marcia Hafif Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
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informed at the beginning of each month about the latest
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