Portrait of Richard Mayhew in his studio. Photo: Jason Henry.
Richard Mayhew featured in The New York Times, May 2023
Installation view of “Richard Mayhew: Natural Order” at Venus Over Manhattan, New York.
Archival portraits of Richard Mayhew.
Installation view of Richard Mayhew’s work installed in the permanent collection galleries of SFMOMA
Richard Mayhew (center) with a group of artists he gathered at Penn State University for a conference called “Since the Harlem Renaissance,” alongside artists and curators including Benny Andrews, Faith Ringgold, Elizabeth Catlett, Lowery Stokes Sims, and many others.
Installation view of “Richard Mayhew: An American Abstractionist” at The Studio Museum in Harlem, 1978. Photo: The Studio Museum in Harlem.
Richard Mayhew, “Rhapsody,” 2002. Oil on canvas; 48 x 60 in (121.9 x 152.4 cm). Collection of the De Young Museum, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Museum Purchase, Volunteer Council Art Acquisition Fund (2010.2)
Richard Mayhew in his studio earlier this year.
Richard Mayhew Turns 100
Venus Over Manhattan celebrates the 100th birthday of Richard Mayhew, an artist whose profound and emotional connection to the America landscape has captivated audiences for decades. Richard Mayhew’s journey from the shores of Long Island Sound to the forefront of American tells a story of relentless dedication, a profound connection to his African American and Native American heritage, and a ceaseless exploration of the “moonscapes” that define his oeuvre. As the only living member of the historic Spiral Group, Mayhew’s work has traversed the realms of the personal and the political, embodying a narrative that is both intimately personal and expansively universal.
Our 2023 exhibition, “Richard Mayhew: Natural Order,” offered a deep dive into the artist’s exploration of landscape and abstraction, featuring significant works that reveal his mastery over color and form. His work continues to inspire and challenge us, urging us to see the world through his unique lens of color, emotion, and history. As we look forward to upcoming collaborations, we celebrate not just a century of Richard Mayhew’s life, but a century of profound impact on art and culture. Today, we honor him not just as an artist but as a visionary, whose landscapes are a testament to the beauty of the world as he sees it—and feels it.
Happy 100th birthday, Richard Mayhew. Here’s to celebrating your incredible journey, your indelible place in the history of art, and the countless ways you’ve enriched the world with your work.
