American Surrealist, The Art of Richard Hagerty

American Surrealist presents a stunning collection of works by artist Richard Hagerty.

Surrealism provides the inspiration for Hagerty’s art, from his earliest dream-based watercolors of the late 1970s to his striking and brilliant oil paintings of today. One of the seminal modernist styles of the 20th century, surrealism started as a literary
and intellectual movement in Paris. The movement was expansive, psychoanalytical, experimental and pluralistic — an ideal fit for Hagerty’s world view.

Through his art, Hagerty brings to life the essence and visions of the conscious, the unconscious, and the imagination. His work collapses the laws of space and time and sweeps the reader into his extraordinarily vivid dreams, his fascination with myth and symbols, and his infinite curiosity about, and experimentation with, color and form. His paintings are figurative, intensely emotional, evocative, whimsical, at times dark, and demand an immediate devotion to the images on the canvas as well as to the artist’s psyche.

The compilation features more than 250 works including 175 color reproductions, black-and-white sketches, uniquely-painted bones and found objects, which Hagerty has created over the past 40 years.

Accompanying the collection of works are an expansive essay by art historian Roberta Sokolitz and an intimate interview with writer Gary Smith. Together, these pieces explore and reveal the passions, obsessions, life and mind of the prolific artist, Richard Hagerty.

American Surrealist is a long-awaited monograph as well as an exquisite artwork in itself.