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Biography

Felrath Hines (1913-1993) believed that painting was, above all else, a personal pursuit. Hines’ lifelong interests in technical precision and harmonious colors were evident throughout his career. In the 40s and 50s, his figurative works were influenced by the Cubist movement, which in turn, was influenced by tribal African shields and masks. In the 60s he transitioned to expressionist landscapes, claiming that other artists were far better at rendering realistic images, so why not explore the abstract? Unsatisfied unless he was challenging himself, the 70s saw him begin to explore harmonious biomorphic forms. Once satisfied with that exploration, he turned to the De Stijl movement for further inspiration. 

Felrath Hines (1913-1993) was born and raised in Indianapolis. He attended the Art Institute of Chicago before moving to New York to study with the Russian modernist Nahum Tschacbasov. He later studied design at the Pratt Institute and New York University. In addition to his artistic oeuvre, Felrath Hines was known for his conservation work and opened his private practice in 1964. In 1972 he left New York for Washington, D.C. to become Chief Conservator of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery and later the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden until his eventual retirement in 1984. From that time to his death in 1993, he produced more paintings than the rest of his career combined.