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William Beckman | Gregory Gillespie -  - Viewing Room - Forum Gallery Online Viewing Room

Forum Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of twenty-one paintings and drawings by William Beckman (b. 1942) and Gregory Gillespie (1936-2000), recognized as two of America’s most exceptional figurative painters of modern times.  William Beckman and Gregory Gillespie shared the power to illuminate life through revelatory focus on its organized detail above and beneath the surface of the individual subject. Opening on Thursday, November 16, 2023, and continuing through Saturday, January 6, 2024, the exhibition celebrates their friendship and art with landmark works spanning seven decades.

William Beckman | Gregory Gillespie -  - Viewing Room - Forum Gallery Online Viewing Room

“(Gregory Gillespie) is one of the few painters who ultimately ended up as an artist, in the true sense of an artist as a creator of concepts and an originator of thought.”
_William Beckman

“(William Beckman) could paint the blond hair on his head or beard, and he could paint a whole room or a landscape reflected in the eyes. His focus and concentration are incredible. So you push your own limits, and you feel content with what you’re doing; and then somebody else pushes it even further.”
_Gregory Gillespie

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Gregory Gillespie Studio Wall (Still Life with Self-Portrait), 1976 oil, printed paper collage, pencil and Magna on wood, in four parts 96 x 124 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Studio Wall (Still Life with Self-Portrait), 1976
oil, printed paper collage, pencil and Magna on wood, in four parts
96 x 124 inches

Inquire
William Beckman Diana III, 1976 oil on panel 74 x 51 inches

William Beckman
Diana III, 1976
oil on panel
74 x 51 inches

Inquire
Gregory Gillespie Roman Interior Kitchen (Still Life with Milk Carton), 1967-69 oil on panel 63 x 45 1/2 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Roman Interior Kitchen (Still Life with Milk Carton), 1967-69
oil on panel
63 x 45 1/2 inches
SOLD

Inquire
William Beckman Man and Woman, 1987 oil on panel 79 x 79 inches

William Beckman
Man and Woman, 1987
oil on panel
79 x 79 inches

Inquire
William Beckman Study for Diana and Deidra, 1979 charcoal on paper 61 x 49 inches

William Beckman
Study for Diana and Deidra, 1979
charcoal on paper
61 x 49 inches

Inquire
William Beckman Overcoats II, 1998 charcoal on paper 90 x 80 inches 100 x 90 inches, framed

William Beckman
Overcoats II, 1998
charcoal on paper
90 x 80 inches

Inquire
William Beckman Self-Portrait Red on Blue, 2020 oil on panel 21 1/8 x 16 1/4 inches

William Beckman
Self-Portrait Red on Blue, 2020
oil on panel
21 1/8 x 16 1/4 inches

Inquire
Gregory Gillespie Self Portrait in Blue Hooded Sweatshirt, 1993 oil and alkyd on board 26 x 22 1/2 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Self Portrait in Blue Hooded Sweatshirt, 1993
oil and alkyd on board
26 x 22 1/2 inches

Inquire
William Beckman S.P. w/ I-P, 2019 oil on panel 23 3/4 x 19 1/2 inches

William Beckman
S.P. w/ I-P, 2019
oil on panel
23 3/4 x 19 1/2 inches

Inquire
Gregory Gillespie Ancient Boats, 1987-8 oil and alkyd on panel 24 1/4 x 21 1/2 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Ancient Boats, 1987-8
oil and alkyd on panel
24 1/4 x 21 1/2 inches

Inquire
Gregory Gillespie Dog and Doll in Room, 1981 mixed media 25 x 31 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Dog and Doll in Room, 1981
mixed media
25 x 31 inches

Inquire
Gregory Gillespie Bird, Man, Japanese Figure and Mad Dog, 1983 oil on wall board 24 x 33 1/2 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Bird, Man, Japanese Figure and Mad Dog, 1983
oil on wall board
24 x 33 1/2 inches
SOLD

William Beckman Bales #3, 2018-2019 oil on panel 24 x 39 inches

William Beckman
Bales #3, 2018-2019
oil on panel
24 x 39 inches

Inquire
William Beckman Bel Air Farm Summer, 2020 oil on panel 9 3/4 x 23 3/4 inches

William Beckman
Bel Air Farm Summer, 2020
oil on panel
9 3/4 x 23 3/4 inches

Inquire
Gregory Gillespie Bright and Cloudy, 1997 oil on wood 12 x 28 3/4 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Bright and Cloudy, 1997
oil on wood
12 x 28 3/4 inches
SOLD

Gregory Gillespie Lani's Game, 1999 oil on wood 10 1/2 x 28 1/4 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Lani's Game, 1999
oil on wood
10 1/2 x 28 1/4 inches

Inquire
Gregory Gillespie Trees and Pond, c. 1997 oil on wood 10 5/8 x 31 3/8 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Trees and Pond, c. 1997
oil on wood
10 5/8 x 31 3/8 inches

Inquire
William Beckman, Wheat Field. 2023

William Beckman
Wheat Field, 2023
oil on panel
8 1/2 x 22 3/4 inches

Inquire
Straw Bales with Northern Sky, 2023 oil on panel 11 5/8 x 23 inches

William Beckman
Straw Bales with Northern Sky, 2023
oil on panel
11 5/8 x 23 inches

Inquire
William Beckman W.D.D.T., 2022 charcoal on paper 96 x 72 inches

William Beckman
W.D.D.T., 2022
charcoal on paper
96 x 72 inches

Inquire
Gregory Gillespie Self-Portrait in Backyard, 1999 oil on wood 10 1/2 x 11 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Self-Portrait in Backyard, 1999
oil on wood
10 1/2 x 11 inches

Inquire
William Beckman Home, 2011-23 oil on panel 11 3/8 x 11 3/4 inches

William Beckman
Home, 2011-23
oil on panel
11 3/8 x 11 3/4 inches

Inquire
Gregory Gillespie Studio Wall (Still Life with Self-Portrait), 1976 oil, printed paper collage, pencil and Magna on wood, in four parts 96 x 124 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Studio Wall (Still Life with Self-Portrait), 1976
oil, printed paper collage, pencil and Magna on wood, in four parts
96 x 124 inches

William Beckman Diana III, 1976 oil on panel 74 x 51 inches

William Beckman
Diana III, 1976
oil on panel
74 x 51 inches

Gregory Gillespie Roman Interior Kitchen (Still Life with Milk Carton), 1967-69 oil on panel 63 x 45 1/2 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Roman Interior Kitchen (Still Life with Milk Carton), 1967-69
oil on panel
63 x 45 1/2 inches
SOLD

William Beckman Man and Woman, 1987 oil on panel 79 x 79 inches

William Beckman
Man and Woman, 1987
oil on panel
79 x 79 inches

William Beckman Study for Diana and Deidra, 1979 charcoal on paper 61 x 49 inches

William Beckman
Study for Diana and Deidra, 1979
charcoal on paper
61 x 49 inches

William Beckman Overcoats II, 1998 charcoal on paper 90 x 80 inches 100 x 90 inches, framed

William Beckman
Overcoats II, 1998
charcoal on paper
90 x 80 inches

William Beckman Self-Portrait Red on Blue, 2020 oil on panel 21 1/8 x 16 1/4 inches

William Beckman
Self-Portrait Red on Blue, 2020
oil on panel
21 1/8 x 16 1/4 inches

Gregory Gillespie Self Portrait in Blue Hooded Sweatshirt, 1993 oil and alkyd on board 26 x 22 1/2 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Self Portrait in Blue Hooded Sweatshirt, 1993
oil and alkyd on board
26 x 22 1/2 inches

William Beckman S.P. w/ I-P, 2019 oil on panel 23 3/4 x 19 1/2 inches

William Beckman
S.P. w/ I-P, 2019
oil on panel
23 3/4 x 19 1/2 inches

Gregory Gillespie Ancient Boats, 1987-8 oil and alkyd on panel 24 1/4 x 21 1/2 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Ancient Boats, 1987-8
oil and alkyd on panel
24 1/4 x 21 1/2 inches

Gregory Gillespie Dog and Doll in Room, 1981 mixed media 25 x 31 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Dog and Doll in Room, 1981
mixed media
25 x 31 inches

Gregory Gillespie Bird, Man, Japanese Figure and Mad Dog, 1983 oil on wall board 24 x 33 1/2 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Bird, Man, Japanese Figure and Mad Dog, 1983
oil on wall board
24 x 33 1/2 inches
SOLD

William Beckman Bales #3, 2018-2019 oil on panel 24 x 39 inches

William Beckman
Bales #3, 2018-2019
oil on panel
24 x 39 inches

William Beckman Bel Air Farm Summer, 2020 oil on panel 9 3/4 x 23 3/4 inches

William Beckman
Bel Air Farm Summer, 2020
oil on panel
9 3/4 x 23 3/4 inches

Gregory Gillespie Bright and Cloudy, 1997 oil on wood 12 x 28 3/4 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Bright and Cloudy, 1997
oil on wood
12 x 28 3/4 inches
SOLD

Gregory Gillespie Lani's Game, 1999 oil on wood 10 1/2 x 28 1/4 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Lani's Game, 1999
oil on wood
10 1/2 x 28 1/4 inches

Gregory Gillespie Trees and Pond, c. 1997 oil on wood 10 5/8 x 31 3/8 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Trees and Pond, c. 1997
oil on wood
10 5/8 x 31 3/8 inches

William Beckman, Wheat Field. 2023

William Beckman
Wheat Field, 2023
oil on panel
8 1/2 x 22 3/4 inches

Straw Bales with Northern Sky, 2023 oil on panel 11 5/8 x 23 inches

William Beckman
Straw Bales with Northern Sky, 2023
oil on panel
11 5/8 x 23 inches

William Beckman W.D.D.T., 2022 charcoal on paper 96 x 72 inches

William Beckman
W.D.D.T., 2022
charcoal on paper
96 x 72 inches

Gregory Gillespie Self-Portrait in Backyard, 1999 oil on wood 10 1/2 x 11 inches

Gregory Gillespie
Self-Portrait in Backyard, 1999
oil on wood
10 1/2 x 11 inches

William Beckman Home, 2011-23 oil on panel 11 3/8 x 11 3/4 inches

William Beckman
Home, 2011-23
oil on panel
11 3/8 x 11 3/4 inches

“Beckman neither memorializes nor allegorizes. He never sacrifices the look of things to a fantasy about invisible depths. A straight-ahead realist, he is unswervingly devoted to the visible…Beckman makes the kind of images that convince at first glance.”
_Carter Ratcliff, art critic, writer, poet, contributing editor of Art in America

“Gregory Gillespie (was) an artist whose probing, urgent, often bizarre paintings occupied a singular place in the history of late-20th-century representation.”
_Roberta Smith, obituary for The New York Times, April 29, 2000

Downloads

Press Release
On William Beckman
On Gregory Gillespie
On Beckman & Gillespie
Beckman, "Diana III" fact sheet
Beckman, "Man and Woman" fact sheet
Beckman, "Overcoats II" fact sheet
Beckman, "S.P. w/ I-P" fact sheet
Beckman, "Study for Diana and Deidra" fact sheet
Gillespie, "Ancient Boats" fact sheet
Gillespie, "Bird, Man, Japanese Figure and Mad Dog" fact sheet
Gillespie, "Bright and Cloudy" fact sheet
Gillespie, "Dog and Doll in Room" fact sheet
Gillespie, "Lani's Game" fact sheet
Gillespie, "Roman Interior Kitchen (Still Life with Milk Carton)" fact sheet
Gillespie, "Self Portrait in Blue Hooded Sweatshirt" fact sheet
Gillespie, "Self-Portrait in Backyard" fact sheet
Gillespie, "Studio Wall" fact sheet
Gillespie, "Trees and Pond" fact sheet