Richard Hambleton:: Conversations with Art History

Jan 27 - Mar 2, 2024
Installation Views
Press Release

ACA Galleries is pleased to present an exhibition of Richard Hambleton’s work that will offer a new recontextualization of his famed street art practice. 


Opening on January 27, the show will reframe the artist’s legacy by locating his work within the context of the broader Abstract Expressionist movement that inspired him. This exhibition will include paintings and works on paper by Richard Hambleton, alongside works by leading figures of the Abstract Expressionist movement, including Franz Kline, Theodoros Stamos and Ad Reinhardt.


Widely known as the “Godfather of Street Art,” Richard Hambleton (1954-2017), was a Canadian artist celebrated for his pioneering role in the street art movement of the 1980s. Born in Vancouver, he gained widespread recognition for his enigmatic "Shadowman" series, characterized by dark and eerie painted silhouettes, found on hundreds of urban surfaces across Manhattan at the height of the 80’s downtown street art scene. His work has been exhibited internationally–featured twice at the Venice Biennale–and he even painted his Shadow men on the Berlin Wall. 


Although Hambleton’s art has been hugely influential to a younger generation of artists, this is the first exhibition to look at his work in dialogue with art history. The exhibition demonstrates how Hambleton incorporated both the painterly gestures and the hard edged zips and lines of Abstract Expressionism into a wholly unique style all his own.

Artworks
  • Richard Hambleton Untitled Shadow Head Yellow, 2004 Acrylic on paper 21 1/2 x 15 1/2 in. 54.6 x 39.4 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Untitled Shadow Head Yellow, 2004
    Acrylic on paper
    21 1/2 x 15 1/2 in.
    54.6 x 39.4 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Austrian Shadow Man, 1998 Acrylic on canvas 71 x 67 in. 180.3 x 170.2 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Austrian Shadow Man, 1998
    Acrylic on canvas
    71 x 67 in.
    180.3 x 170.2 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Four Heads, 2016 Acrylic on textured canvas 32 x 53 in. 81.3 x 134.6 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Four Heads, 2016
    Acrylic on textured canvas
    32 x 53 in.
    81.3 x 134.6 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Cat (Gold) #2, 2004 Acrylic on paper 24 1/2 x 19 in. 62.2 x 48.3 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Cat (Gold) #2, 2004
    Acrylic on paper
    24 1/2 x 19 in.
    62.2 x 48.3 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Horse and Rider (Blue Stripe), 2003 Acrylic on canvas 72 1/2 x 55 in. 184.2 x 139.7 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Horse and Rider (Blue Stripe), 2003
    Acrylic on canvas
    72 1/2 x 55 in.
    184.2 x 139.7 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Shadow Figure (Gold), 2014 Acrylic on canvas 79 x 32 in. 200.7 x 81.3 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Shadow Figure (Gold), 2014
    Acrylic on canvas
    79 x 32 in.
    200.7 x 81.3 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Shadow Head (Black and White with line) Acrylic on paper 20 x 15 in. 50.8 x 38.1 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Shadow Head (Black and White with line)
    Acrylic on paper
    20 x 15 in.
    50.8 x 38.1 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Shadow head (black on silver) Acrylic on paper 23 1/4 x 17 7/8 in. 59.0 x 45.4 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Shadow head (black on silver)
    Acrylic on paper
    23 1/4 x 17 7/8 in.
    59.0 x 45.4 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Shadow Head (Gold on Black) Acrylic on paper 19 1/2 x 15 in. 49.5 x 38.1 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Shadow Head (Gold on Black)
    Acrylic on paper
    19 1/2 x 15 in.
    49.5 x 38.1 cm
  • Ad Reinhardt Wadsworth Atheneum Portfolio (10 screenprints #2), 1966 Silkscreen 17 x 22 in. 43.2 x 55.9 cm
    Ad Reinhardt
    Wadsworth Atheneum Portfolio (10 screenprints #2), 1966
    Silkscreen
    17 x 22 in.
    43.2 x 55.9 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Untitled Shadow Man, 1983 acrylic with paper on plywood 86 1/2 x 48 in 219.7 x 121.9 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Untitled Shadow Man, 1983
    acrylic with paper on plywood
    86 1/2 x 48 in
    219.7 x 121.9 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Doubt, 2002 Acrylic and oil on paper 41 1/2 x 24 in 105.4 x 61 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Doubt, 2002
    Acrylic and oil on paper
    41 1/2 x 24 in
    105.4 x 61 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Horse and Rider (Thick Vertical Lines) Acrylic on paper 18 x 23 in 45.7 x 58.4 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Horse and Rider (Thick Vertical Lines)
    Acrylic on paper
    18 x 23 in
    45.7 x 58.4 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Red Shadow Head, 2016 Acrylic on canvas 20 x 16 in 50.8 x 40.6 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Red Shadow Head, 2016
    Acrylic on canvas
    20 x 16 in
    50.8 x 40.6 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Three Shadow Heads, 2003 Acrylic on canvas 29 3/4 x 63 in. 75.6 x 160.0 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Three Shadow Heads, 2003
    Acrylic on canvas
    29 3/4 x 63 in.
    75.6 x 160.0 cm
  • Richard Hambleton White Shadow Head, 2016 Acrylic on canvas 20 x 16 in 50.8 x 40.6 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    White Shadow Head, 2016
    Acrylic on canvas
    20 x 16 in
    50.8 x 40.6 cm
  • Norman Lewis No. 4, 1973 Oil on canvas 48 x 80 in 121.9 x 203.2 cm
    Norman Lewis
    No. 4, 1973
    Oil on canvas
    48 x 80 in
    121.9 x 203.2 cm
  • Ad Reinhardt Wadsworth Atheneum Portfolio (10 screenprints #3), 1966 Silkscreen 17 x 22 in. 43.2 x 55.9 cm
    Ad Reinhardt
    Wadsworth Atheneum Portfolio (10 screenprints #3), 1966
    Silkscreen
    17 x 22 in.
    43.2 x 55.9 cm
  • Ad Reinhardt Wadsworth Atheneum Portfolio (10 screenprints #5), 1966 Silkscreen 17 x 22 in. 43.2 x 55.9 cm
    Ad Reinhardt
    Wadsworth Atheneum Portfolio (10 screenprints #5), 1966
    Silkscreen
    17 x 22 in.
    43.2 x 55.9 cm
  • Charles Alston Untitled, 1973 Oil on masonite 18 x 24 in 45.7 x 61 cm
    Charles Alston
    Untitled, 1973
    Oil on masonite
    18 x 24 in
    45.7 x 61 cm
  • Richard Hambleton Shadow Figure (Red), 2003 Acrylic on canvas 77 x 26 1/2 in. 195.6 x 67.3 cm
    Richard Hambleton
    Shadow Figure (Red), 2003
    Acrylic on canvas
    77 x 26 1/2 in.
    195.6 x 67.3 cm