COLLECTORS RICK FRIEDMAN AND CINDY LOU WAKEFIELD reside in Southampton on the East End of Long Island, NY, where many Abstract Expressionist painters lived and worked, dating back to the 1950’s. These artists, pioneering a new art genre, had indelible impact and presence that can still be felt today in this arts centric community of over 1,500 artists.

It was Wakefield, a popular Southampton educator who was freelance writing for the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in East Hampton, who, on their first date, encouraged Friedman to explore and seek out work by these artists. Inspired after reading the book, “Hamptons Bohemia: Two Centuries of Artists and Writers on the Beach” written by Helen A. Harrison, Director of the Pollock-Krasner House, Friedman began to focus their collection on these 1948-60’s “local painters.” Since many of these local painters help ignite and champion the most significant art movement in America in the 20th century, Abstract Expressionism, Wakefield and Friedman realized that the importance of these regional artists expanded way past the pristine beaches and tony hamlets of the Hamptons, so much so that, the artists of the Hamptons were the artists of America. 

Their earliest purchase together was Elaine DeKooning’s Cave #24, red oxide wall, Friedman still recalls the elation and strong emotion both felt hanging it seeing it on the wall of his home. Now bitten by the “collecting bug,” this launched them on an endless 16 year long journey in researching and acquiring both male and female artists of the AbEx era and so-called New York School. 

For the last 17 years, Cindy Lou and I have enjoyed the never-ending journey of researching and assembling a collection “talented but underappreciated “women artists who helped pioneer 1950’s era AbEx movement, the so- called New York School, and their Subsequent migration to the East End.

In recent years, the art world has since embraced their contributions, resulting in several museum show, books, insatiable demand for their works.
Featuring 32 of the most acclaimed women artists of that NYC based movement, with over 100 pieces, this is perhaps the most comprehensive survey to date, produced in this genre. 

Although our collection was displayed prior at the Fenimore Art Museum and the Nassau County Museum of Art, we feel that SAC the most appropriate venue for this newly expanded survey. Over the past half century, many of the artists in this show, pioneers of the AbEx movement, proudly exhibited their work in this historic SAC building during their illustrious careers. So, this is sort of a “homecoming” show for them.

This Fall 2023 show provides guests a “rediscovery” of the break-though, and innovative midcentury art movement, considered by many to be America’s most significant art movement of the 20th century. It also provides new generation of viewers an opportunity to discover these important artists, many of whom lived and worked locally.

We have enthusiastically worked closely with Christina Strassfield over the years, and value her deep understanding, respect, and appreciation for these artists’ oeuvre and their important contributions to art in America. Her long experience helped guide this curation and display.

We are very enthusiastic to team up again with SAC, having produced the Hamptons Fine Art Fair on their grounds 2 years ago.

We are pleased to offer select pieces available for public acquisition, a portion of which benefits SAC .