RICHARD KOPPE
American, 1916-1973
Born in in St. Paul, Minnesota, artist Richard Koppe combined aspects of Cubism and Surrealism in his paintings. Koppe explored line, color, composition and space, producing works that are both playful and intricate. Koppe's rigorous experimentation with form, mastery of diverse media and interest in design reflect his experience as a student of transplanted European modernists like László Moholy-Nagy and Alexander Archipenko at Chicago's New Bauhaus in the late 1930s.
Moving to Chicago in 1937, Koppe studied at the New Bauhaus (which later became the Institute of Design of the Illinois Institute of Technology). In 1950, his work was exhibited at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art in the exhibition "American Painting Today." He headed the Department of Visual Design at the Institute of Design until 1963. In 2015, a retrospective of his paintings, prints and drawings was exhibited at the Elmhurst Art Museum. Koppe was married to Catherine Hinkle, also an artist. His work has been shown in many museums in America including the MOMA and the Whitney.
American, 1916-1973
Born in in St. Paul, Minnesota, artist Richard Koppe combined aspects of Cubism and Surrealism in his paintings. Koppe explored line, color, composition and space, producing works that are both playful and intricate. Koppe's rigorous experimentation with form, mastery of diverse media and interest in design reflect his experience as a student of transplanted European modernists like László Moholy-Nagy and Alexander Archipenko at Chicago's New Bauhaus in the late 1930s.
Moving to Chicago in 1937, Koppe studied at the New Bauhaus (which later became the Institute of Design of the Illinois Institute of Technology). In 1950, his work was exhibited at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art in the exhibition "American Painting Today." He headed the Department of Visual Design at the Institute of Design until 1963. In 2015, a retrospective of his paintings, prints and drawings was exhibited at the Elmhurst Art Museum. Koppe was married to Catherine Hinkle, also an artist. His work has been shown in many museums in America including the MOMA and the Whitney.
Untitled, 1940, Gouache on board, 10 7/8 x 8 3/8 inches