Sylvia Fein, one of America’s top female surrealist painters, lived and painted in Ajijic from 1943-1946, and has fond memories of her time there. Now in her nineties, and living in California, she still paints every day, and says she will never run out of ideas or inspiration.
Fein has held relatively few shows, and her works are extremely rare at auction.
Sylvia Fein: Muchacha de Ajijic (1945). Reproduced by kind permission of the artist.
Several of her recent paintings, however, are included in “Cherchez la femme: Women and Surrealism”, a magnificent exhibition-sale being held by Southeby’s. The sale takes place in a few days, so hurry if you intend to bid!
- Lot 40 (not for sale) is The Lady and the White Knight (a self-portrait of Fein and her husband)
- Lot 41 Genesis
- Lot 42 Red Rising Eye
- Lot 43 Spiral Galactic Eye
- Lot 44 Kite Eye
Other artists, with strong Mexican connections, who also have works in this exhibition-sale, include Leonora Carrington, Frida Kahlo, and Remedios Varo. The show opened on
Tony Burton’s books include “Lake Chapala: A Postcard History” (2022), “Foreign Footprints in Ajijic” (2022), “If Walls Could Talk: Chapala’s historic buildings and their former occupants” (2020), (available in translation as “Si Las Paredes Hablaran”), “Mexican Kaleidoscope” (2016), and “Lake Chapala Through the Ages” (2008).
One Response to “Rare opportunity: Southeby’s to auction several Sylvia Fein paintings”
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Most intriguing. This info certainly makes me want to know so much more of this lady–I sure hope someone is interviewing her on a consistent basis.