William L. Hawkins (1895-1990) <br> Frankenstein<br> 1983

Lot 5

About Seller

127 East 69th Street
New York, NY 10021
United States

Keno Auctions is renowned for our expertise in fine and decorative arts. With more than 30 years experience, founder Leigh Keno has established a brilliant team of experts specializing in fine art, furniture, decorative arts and jewelry.

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About Auction

Americana and Estates Auction by Keno Auctions

Live

Americana and Estates Auction

By Keno Auctions

Jan 23, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-01-23 13:00:00 2021-01-23 13:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Americana and Estates Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/keno/americana-and-estates-auction-6312 Keno Auctions Leigh@kenoauctions.com

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Lot Description

Enamel paint on repurposed beaverboard with sand inscribed along the bottom and on right side "WILLIAM L. HAWKINS JULY 27, 1895 JANY 18, 1983."

Dimensions

57 in. 144.8cm x 42 in. 106.7cm

Provenance:
The Artist to Lee Porter Garrett (1949-2019) Avon Lake, Ohio
Austin Miller US Folk Art, Columbus Ohio (partnered with Duff Lindsay, Lindsay Galleries)
Josephine and Walter Buhl Ford II (1920-1991), Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan.
Sotheby's New York Property from the Collection of Josephine & Walter Buhl Ford ll, 06 October, 2006, Lot 416, Sold $78,000 (Includ.BP).

Please see image of Hawkins standing next to his recently completed "Frankenstein" in the home of fellow artist and collector Lee Garrett. The reason that an enigmatic smile appears on the face of what has traditionally been a terrifying creature was recently explained to us by Duff Lindsay, of Lindsay Gallery: I knew Hawkins and used to go over to his house to watch him paint. He always said that the inspiration for this piece came from the front of the Frankenberry cereal box. We are grateful to Duff Lindsay for this information. Please see photo of a c. 1980 Frankenberry cereal box -of the type that was the inspiration for Hawkins Frankenstein- in images.

Also please see an image of Hawkins with the first owner of this painting, Lee Garrett, his friend and fellow artist who entered one of the 87 year old Hawkin's paintings into the 1982 Ohio World's fair, thereby exposing his work to the world and propelling his career. (Hawkins/Garrett Photo courtesy of Lindsay Gallery and the Columbus Museum of Art). Hawkins authority and author Jenifer P. Borum stated in 2009, awkins was a quintessential Outsider, working radically outside the limits of academic Cannon or contemporary style. We are indebted to Outsider dealer and expert Michael Noland, who kindly gave Keno Auctions permission to repost this image of Hawkins posing with his Frankenstein with a Madonna-esque smile.

Condition

Condition: Excellent with extremely minor age-appropriate losses to pigment in a few areas. The work is painted on repurposed beaverboard and there was a hole in the board [perhaps caused by a bullet?] which was apparently filled with putty by Hawkins so that the front would be smooth. Frame was added at some point around the time the Fords purchased it. Please note: Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to the client but is only an opinion - however conscientiously undertaken and offered- and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Keno Auctions shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from age-appropriate wear and tear or imperfections of any type.
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