Richard Mayhew (American, 1924–2024), Desert Spring, 1985, oil on canvas, 52-1/16 x 56-1/8 inches. Transferred from the College of Arts and Architecture of The Pennsylvania State University, 2006.39 © Estate of Richard Mayhew
Richard Mayhew in his studio in Soquel, California.
The Palmer Museum mourns the passing of Richard Mayhew, a visionary artist who captured the essence of nature through his transcendent landscape paintings, reflecting the African American and Native American experience in his near-abstract style and mastery of color. He was the last surviving member of the Spiral Group, a collective of African American artists formed in 1963 to discuss their role in the civil rights movement and the evolving landscape of American art and culture. Mayhew passed away peacefully in his home in California at the age of 100. We're honored to have several of Mayhew's works in the Palmer's permanent collection, including "Desert Spring" on view in the Ned A. Brokloff Gallery.
