For centuries, artists have depicted people preparing and enjoying food and drink, be they at home, out on the town, or sitting al fresco. To consume a meal or tipple is part of being human, so it makes sense that collectors love to display reminders on their walls. Artists now are no less interested in the themes of consumption and hospitality than their forerunners were. Though subtle critiques are sometimes embedded in the resulting images, most contemporary artists are instead drawn to cafes, bars, restaurants, and kitchens for their visual appeal.
Illustrated here is an array of superb artworks made in this timeless genre. Enjoy, and bon appetit!
1. “News Worthy”
SUZIE BAKER (b. 1970), “News Worthy,” 2015, oil on linen panel, 12 x 16 in., private collection
2. “Oligarchs”
FRED DANZIGER (b. 1946), “Oligarchs,” 2018, gouache on Mylar, 10 x 24 in., F.A.N. Gallery, Philadelphia
3. “Shopping Cart”
DIANNE MASSEY DUNBAR (b. 1952), “Shopping Cart,” 2009, oil on canvas, 20 x 30 in., Gallery 1261, Denver
4. “The Discussion”
ROBERT EVANS (b. 1953), “The Discussion,” 2013, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 in., collection of the artist
5. “Sushi Trail”
STUART DUNKEL (b. 1952), “Sushi Trail,” 2018, oil on panel, 5 x 7 in., Tree’s Place Gallery, Orleans, MA
6. “Beiler’s in Reading Terminal”
HEATHER LYNN GIBSON (b. 1970), “Beiler’s in Reading Terminal,” 2019, oil on linen, 24 x 12 in., available from the artist
7. “May Morning in San Marco”
CHARLES IARROBINO (b. 1952), “May Morning in San Marco,” 2018, oil on linen mounted on panel, 40 x 30 in., Chasen Galleries, Sarasota
8. “Chef’s Station”
KAREN HORNE (b. 1959), “Chef’s Station,” 2019, oil on linen, 18 x 24 in., HORNE Fine Art, Salt Lake City
9. “Brooklyn Lunch”
SHELBY KEEFE (b. 1958), “Brooklyn Lunch,” 2017, oil on linen, 28 x 22 in., Fine Line Designs Gallery & Sculpture Garden, Sister Bay, WI
10. “Silver Spoons”
GEORGANNA LENSSEN (b. 1964), “Silver Spoons,” 2017, oil on board, 8 x 8 in., collection of Lisa and Jeff Thomas
11. “Jelly Donut”
CLEVELAND MORRIS (b. 1947), “Jelly Donut,” 2017, oil on linen, 8 x 8 in., private collection
12. “Far Far Away”
JOSEPH LORUSSO (b. 1966), “Far Far Away,” 2018, oil on panel, 24 x 24 in., McLarry Fine Art (Santa Fe)
13. “Cook Works”
SALLY STRAND (b. 1954), “Cook Works,” 1998, pastel on paper, 30 x 42 in., collection of Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York
14. “Cheeseburger”
ELIZABETH SELBY (b. 1988), “Cheeseburger,” 2014, oil on panel, 36 x 36 in., private collection
15. “Bag of Grannys”
DAN SIMONEAU (b. 1962), “Bag of Grannys,” 2017, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 36 in., Re:Vision Art Gallery, Kenosha, WI
16. “Lunch in Provence IV”
THALIA STRATTON (b. 1957), “Lunch in Provence IV,” 2018, oil on canvas, 30 x 24 in., New Masters Gallery, Carmel, CA
17. “A Careful Cleaning”
NANCY TANKERSLEY (b. 1949), “A Careful Cleaning,” 2019, oil on muslin panel, 12 x 12 in., available from the artist
18. “Two Up, One on the Rocks”
JILL STEFANI WAGNER (b. 1955), “Two Up, One on the Rocks,” 2017, oil on linen panel, 12 x 12 in., J. Petter Galleries, Douglas, MI
19. “Waiting to Be Chopped”
Catherine Hillis (b. 1953), “Waiting to Be Chopped,” 2017, watercolor on paper, 12 x 16 in., private collection
20. “Seasonal Favorites”
JON TOCCHINI (b. 1968), “Seasonal Favorites,” 2014, oil on canvas, 12 x 16 in., private collection
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