artcase · MORTON BARTLETT
Photograph from thekeencollection.org.
Hidden intimacy, by Morton Bartlett
What makes Morton Bartlett so intriguing is that he never showed or sold his work during his lifetime. His sculptures, mainly figures of girls between the ages of 8 and 16, are rendered with stunning realism. Bartlett not only sculpted the figures by hand, but also created detailed costumes for them, which he personally sewed and wove.
Capturing the thrill
He would then photograph the dolls in carefully orchestrated poses, as if documenting moments in a life he had constructed for himself. This level of dedication and isolation from the art world makes his work feel almost like an intimate, private project.
BIOGRAPHY
Born in 1909 in Boston, Bartlett led an apparently ordinary existence as a graphic designer. However, after his death in 1992, a private collection of sculptures of girls that he himself had sculpted and photographed was discovered, revealing a completely hidden facet of his life.
The mystery surrounding his work stems both from the secrecy with which it was created and from the lack of information about his intentions. There is no evidence as to why Bartlett decided to create these figures, which has given rise to numerous interpretations.
Some consider that Bartlett was creating a private universe, in which his sculptures played a profound emotional or psychological role. Others believe that he was simply a perfectionist obsessed with the idealised representation of childhood.
The way Bartlett produced his art is also unusual. He worked completely alone and never sought external recognition or validation. His dolls were carefully moulded and dressed, as if he were building an imaginary family.
ARTWORK
Searching for self-recognition in solitude
Over 30 years, he spent time perfecting every detail, from facial expressions to body posture, creating a visual archive that seemed destined to remain hidden.
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Photograph from artnet.com.
In a world where the unexpected and the marginal are often marginalised, Scott's works are a powerful reminder of art's ability to transform our understanding of the world and our own identity. Her unique approach challenges us to rethink what it means to be human and to value the uniqueness of each individual as a powerful force in artistic and cultural creation. Ultimately, Judith Scott reminds us that true beauty lies in authenticity and personal expression, and that art can be a bridge to understanding and connection beyond the barriers of language and conventional perception.
HERITAGE
Morton Bartlett is one of the most interesting artists of this movement
This combination of extraordinary technique and a hidden artistic life makes him a fascinating figure in outsider art.
Through his secret dedication to his sculptures, Bartlett challenges conventional notions of what it means to be an artist, showing how creation can be both a private act of self-exploration and an artistic manifestation that transcends social expectations.
After his death in 1992, a private collection of sculptures of girls that he himself had sculpted and photographed was discovered, revealing a completely hidden facet of his life.
He never showed or sold his works during his lifetime
Bartlett not only sculpted the figures by hand, but also created detailed costumes for them, which he personally sewed and wove. He would then photograph the dolls in carefully orchestrated poses, as if documenting moments in a life he had constructed for himself.
His level of dedication and isolation from the art world makes his work feel almost like an intimate and private project.
The mystery surrounding his work stems from both the secrecy with which it was created and the lack of information about his intentions.
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Photographs from artnet.com.
The way Bartlett produced his art is also unusual. He worked completely alone and never sought recognition or external validation. His dolls were carefully moulded and dressed, as if he were building an imaginary family.
upcoming ARTCASE
Mapping the time, by George Widener
Widener has an extraordinary ability to process numerical information, which has profoundly influenced his art.
His creations combine mathematics, history, and a fascination with time, with an obsession for numerical patterns and calendars, elements he uses to explore abstract concepts of history and the future.
Widener's work has an obsessive approach to time and numbers. His pieces often resemble riddles in which visual and mathematical representations are mixed, as if each drawing were a codification of historical or future events.
Photograph from Gavin Ashworth NYC.
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