Francis De Erdely (1904-1959) was known for his social realist paintings of everyday people as a way of addressing issues of race, culture, and social strata in Southern California. Laguna Art Museum is proud to present Striking Figures: The Work of Francis De Erdely, the first major exhibition of his work.

A classically trained European painter, De Erdely moved to the United States during World War II and went on to create some of the most striking figurative paintings in California Art. De Erdely has been included in more than twenty books about Los Angeles painters of the mid-century. Striking Figures will highlight De Erdely’s timeless ability to depict the simple grace of common people such as musicians, dancers, laborers, and social outsiders. De Erdely’s depictions are historical documents of the period, expertly painted with a poignancy that remains relevant today.

Striking Figures is organized by Laguna Art Museum and guest curated by Alissa Anderson Campbell. A catalog will be published to accompany the exhibition.

Support for this exhibition was generously provided by the following donors:
Martha and Jim Newkirk
Sandra and Bram Dijkstra
Sue and Keith Colestock
Kelly Tucker
Orange County Fine Art Storage / Display

Traditional Fine Arts Organization, Inc.

Read the Exhibition Press Release Here

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