Laurence Campbell’s
paintings reflect his pride in America and his admiration for the great architecture that defines the American cityscape. See his works at the Mennello Museum of American Art.
Celebrate Old Glory with the paintings of Laurence Campbell, which went on view at the Mennello Museum of American Art this past weekend.
Campbell’s scenes of New York City and his native Philadelphia reflect his pride in America and his admiration for the great architecture that defines the American cityscape.
The flag-infused paintings come from the private collections of local art connoisseurs, including museum co-founder Michael A. Mennello. In all, 17 of Campbell’s works on are view.
“We are delighted to present the lush and flag-clad city paintings of Laurence A. Campbell, whose work presents the awe-inspiring natural changes of the seasons and urban centers at various times of the day,” says Katherine E. Navarro, the museum’s associate curator of education. She points out that the images “provoke thoughts of the intermingled cycles of human life.”
Born in 1939, Campbell contemplates life in big cities through heavy brush strokes, using light and color as a nod to the Impressionists who came before him. While his works can incorporate famous landmarks and addresses — New York’s Trinity Church, Fifth Avenue and Wall Street, for example — there is also an individuality in his human figures that make them stand out.
The works, many displayed in a museum for the first time, come from the collections of Menello, the Allan E. and Linda S. Keen Family and Dr. Manuel and Destiny Perez. Navarro has written an essay for the catalog that accompanies the exhibition.
“We thank our collectors and their families for allowing us to bring their treasures to the museum for all to see,” she said.