Bidspirit auction | Manuel Neri ”Hombre Colorado II”

Manuel Neri ”Hombre Colorado II” Paper Mache - Manuel Neri (American, 1930-2021). Life-size paper mache sculpture titled ”Hombre Colorado II, ” 1958-60. Pencil signed and dated along the back of the arm. This is an early work of Neri's, completed when he was just 28 years old. Provenance: Hackett-Freedman Gallery, 2004; From the Estate of Gary Fink. Lot Essay: Manuel Neri was a pivotal figure in postwar American art, renowned for his expressive figurative sculptures that merged modernist abstraction with a deep engagement in the human form. Born in Sanger, California, to Mexican immigrant parents, Neri became associated with the Bay Area Figurative Movement during the 1950s and 1960s, studying under influential artists such as Richard Diebenkorn and Elmer Bischoff. Rejecting the prevailing dominance of Abstract Expressionism, he instead embraced the tactile immediacy of plaster, marble, and bronze, often leaving the marks of his hands and tools visible on the surface. His works, which frequently depict the female figure, embody a raw yet lyrical quality, fusing physicality with emotional resonance. Throughout his career, Neri collaborated closely with poets, painters, and dancers, weaving interdisciplinary influences into his practice. Notably, his long-term working relationship with poet Mary Julia Klimenko informed a significant body of work in which he explored the subtleties of gesture and pose. Neri’s sculptures are often painted or pigmented, a practice that recalls both classical polychromy and the vibrant color sensibilities of his Bay Area peers. His figures, while grounded in realism, are distilled into essential forms that convey universal human experiences - solitude, contemplation, and resilience - through bold contours and textured surfaces. Neri’s impact on art history lies in his ability to balance tradition and innovation, maintaining the human figure as a central subject during an era dominated by abstraction and conceptualism. His work has been exhibited internationally, with major holdings in institutions such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Beyond his artistic achievements, Neri served as a professor at the University of California, Davis, influencing generations of sculptors. Gary C. Fink was a collector with both a lighthearted sense of humor and a serious commitment to art. Through the Museum Louvre It or Leave It, he offered Minnesotans an offbeat, thought-provoking experience; through MIA gifts, he broadened institutional collections; and through his scholarship, he continues to enable the next generation of artists. A Renaissance soul in the heart of Minnesota’s art community, Gary C. Fink was more than an astute collector - he was a spirited patron whose unconventional vision left an indelible mark on the creative landscape. Height: 65 in x width: 27 in x depth: 10 in. Condition: Please email us at condition@revereauctions.com for a condition report or additional photos.