Froelick Gallery Presents: Rick Bartow and Yoshihiro Kitai

ON VIEW NOW through February 1, 2025

Rick Bartow – Looking for the Medicine

Rick Bartow (1946 – 2016) is considered one of the leading figures in contemporary Native American art, celebrated for his dynamic pastel and graphite drawings, as well as his contributions as a painter, sculptor, and printmaker. Rick Bartow was a Vietnam veteran and member of the Mad River Band of Wiyot Indians. Bartow's creative journey was profoundly supported by Charles Froelick who began collaborating with Bartow in 1992 and showcased his work in Froelick Gallery's inaugural 1995 exhibition. Their partnership flourished for over two decades, resulting in Bartow’s artwork being in over 100 public collections and the subject of over 100 solo exhibitions at museums and galleries. Froelick Gallery now independently represents secondary market artworks including the collection of Japanese Master printer Seiichi Hiroshima. Bartow’s 20-year collaboration with Hiroshima at their Moon and Dog Press resulted in over 225 editioned drypoint titles, and hundreds of monotypes.

Yoshihiro Kitai – “I am looking at the same sky no matter where I am” 

The exhibit I am looking at the same sky no matter where I am, explores the artist's internal struggle between their Japanese roots and their current life in the United States. This phrase represents their acceptance of changing identity, emphasizing that values remain valid regardless of location. The artist's abstract creations investigate human connections and the nuances of group dynamics in American society. Kitai employs a mix of Japanese and Western materials influenced by traditional Japanese ceramics including a surprising embrace of imperfection.

EVENT: ARTIST TALK with Yoshihiro Kitai

Saturday, December 14 starting at 1 pm