top of page
LOOKING
Howard and Roberta Ahmanson visit Olafur Eliasson’s “Room for one colour (1997)” at the National Gallery in London. The immersive installation is the final work in the exhibition “Monochrome: Painting in Black and White” curated by Jennifer Slivka and sponsored by the Ahmansons'. The exhibition spans seven centuries and includes 50 works by artists who have—in most cases—deliberately turned to monochrome in their art, whether it me black and white paintings, grisaille drawings, yellow and black stained glass, or a room filled with yellow light.
One of the attributes of God himself is Beauty. Not something sentimental or a means of setting standards to exclude work that doesn’t fit our social or intellectual paradigms, but rather that experience we enjoy when a work of art or the way the light hits the water gives us a deeper and rewarding, even if painful, glimpse into the nature of reality and of our lives. Beyond that, the Bible teaches that human beings are made in the image of God. That means, first off, that we are beautiful. It also means that, as God created the universe in all its glory, we, too, are creators. So, art works are tangible expressions of God’s work in us and in the world. And, we are part of the wonder of it all. Collections bear witness to the Beauty and the extravagance of the universe and the God who created it.
*This art is intended for educational purposes only. It is a representative sample of the Ahmansons' collection. Copyrights belong to the artists.*
Untitled
Gilliam, Sam
Watercolor on washing paper
2020
American
Corroso Bowl
Scarpa, Carlo
Hand-blown glass
1940
Italian
Earle
Hansen, Channing
Cashmere, hybrid California variegated mutant/Rambou/Cotwold/Border Leicester (Cessna), Lionhead (Beatrix & Derek), Merino, Romedale (January), Romedate (Osage), Romney (Heavenly), Romney (Noble), Romney (Obi One), Lionhead (Beatrix & Derek), Shetland (Colin), and Targee fibers; bamboo; bamboo carbon fiber; gold; holographic polymers; sillk noils; Redwood
2014
American
Vase (Green and Red)
Büttner, Andrea
Hand-blown glass
2021
German
Soft Shapes II
Paul, Zoë
Wool and thread on found fridge grill
2016
South African
Illuminating
Freeman Bentley, Anna
Oil on canvas
2020
British
Number 243
Drew, Leonardo
Wood and paint
2020
American
Atomic (Bliss)
Lawlor, Erin
Oil on canvas
2019
British
Untitled
Wagner, Merrill
Oil on linen
2002
American
Personal Shell
Hawkinson, Tim
Molded urethane and epoxy
2019
American
The See Through
Woods, Clare
Oil on aluminum
2020
British
Of Insanity
Krammes, Barry
Mixed media assemblage with wooden base
2010
American
Standing Sculpture (with rope) #6
Swallow, Ricky
Patinated bronze with oil paint
2018
American
Swayambhu
Sundaram, Sagarika
Wool, bamboo, vices, wire
2021
Indian
Four Landscapes
Wood, Jonas
Ukiyo-e Japanese style woodcuts on paper, set of four
2020
American
River Lea 2
Brown, Hannah
Oil on marine plywood and oak
2019
British
Abune Kidus
Dodds, Kieran
Archival photographic print
Edition 1 of 3 + AP
2018
Scottish
Tod + Leben (Death + Life)
Lüpertz, Markus
Mixed media on canvas in artist’s frame
2016
German
Rombald's Moor
Lipke, Meg
Acrylic and oil on canvas over custom stretcher
2024
American
Crust
Rullens, Machteld
Cardboard, pigment, oil paint, and resin
2021
Dutch
Field of Pilgrims
Engelhardt, Maja Lisa
Double-sided bronze relief on base
2022
Danish
Crucifixion with the Virgin and Sts Cosmas, John the Evangelist and Peter Martyr by Fra Angelico, Cell 38 (foreground), Adoration of the Magi and Man of Sorrows, by Fra Angelico, Cell 39 (background) Museum of San Marco Convent, Florence, Italy
Polidori, Robert
Archival pigment print
2010
Canadian-American
Attorcigliato Vase
Scarpa, Carlo
Clear "antico" glass
1938
Italian
The Madonna of Adabraka
Timothy, Arthur
Oil on linen
2024
African
Snake Charmer
Lawlor, Erin
Oil on canvas
2019
British
They Lying Long Shall Not Die Windly
Gordon, Alastair
Acrylic on birch plywood
2017
Scottish
bottom of page