an installation shot of Sari Dienes' ink rubbing on Webril mounted to four-panel screen titled Central Park. The composition features all-over abstraction across the front and back of the panels in a primarily muted earthtoned color palette.

Sari Dienes

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Sari Dienes, "Central Park", c. 1954, ink rubbing on Webril mounted to four-panel screen, 38 1/2 x 120 inches. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY

 

Oct. 22-Dec. 10, 2021

Art Alliance

 

The Philadelphia Art Alliance at University of the Arts is pleased to present the first Philadelphia exhibition of works by Sari Dienes. 

Dienes' experimental work vastly expanded what was permissible in the visual arts. She was an early influence on younger artists such as Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, who assisted Dienes in her practice of making textural rubbings in Manhattan. 

In addition to Dienes’ works, the second floor of the Art Alliance includes analogous efforts by several artists. A small Rachel Rosenthal ink drawing will be juxtaposed with a sensitive linear drawing by Dienes. Rosenthal and Dienes were influential in introducing Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns to each other in the late 1950s, and all enjoyed soirees in Dienes’ 57th Street loft. 

The exhibition includes mail art correspondence by Ray Johnson, who was a friend of all of the above, and a Dienes frottage of Johnson’s arms quite similar to later rubbing examples by Johns in his prints. There is an early collage painting by Suzi Gablik who attended Black Mountain College with Johson and Rauschenberg and later helped curate the important show Pop Art Redefined with John Russell. Paintings by Carlos Bunga exhibit some of the same material sensibilities as exemplified by Dienes. And, not last, is a marvelous assemblage portrait of Sari Dienes by Lenore Tawney. 

The Philadelphia Art Alliance at University of the Arts is grateful to Pavel Zoubok Fine Art and the Sari Dienes Foundation for their assistance in implementing this exhibition.

 

Our exhibitions are free and open to the public.

an installation shot of Sari Dienes' ink rubbing on Webril mounted to four-panel screen titled Central Park. The composition features all-over abstraction across the front and back across all of the panels in a primarily earthtone color palette.
three framed works hang on a white wall. The composition of each work includes a white background, with a round multicolored central shape with various symbols and textures visible.
installation view of an abstract painting hanging on a while what. The painting has a primarily blue background that fades to a lighter grayish white toward the bottom of the canvas. The composition is comprised of thin organic forms in red, orange and brown paint
a framed work made in a neutral palette featuring organic biomorphic shapes against a white background.

Top: Sari Dienes, "Central Park", c. 1954, ink rubbing on Webril mounted to four-panel screen, 38 1/2 x 120 inches. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY.

Left: (top) Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY;  (bottom) Sari Dienes, "Sky Drip", 1946, oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photos: Joseph Hu.

Right: Sari Dienes, "Shard Straps" (installation view), c. 1950s, plaster collage, doorknob and glass, 22 x 15 ½ inches (framed). Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

Gallery
a gallery installed with Sari Dienes work. A large multipanel abstract work on a white pedestal is in the center of the image. In the background are three floor ceiling windows with two framed works hung between them

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

an gallery installation shot featuring a large multipaneled work on a white pedestal in the center of the image. In the background work of a variety of sizes and media hangs along a large white wall

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

installation shot of two framed multicolored abstract works hangining between three large wood framed windows

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

installation shot of three multisized works of various media hanging on a white while. All three works have neutral, monochromatic palettes

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

a gallery installation shot featuring works on pedestals located around the room and multicolored framed works hanging on the right wall.

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

three framed works installed in a horizontal row on a white wall. Each composition includes a round mutlicolored central shape, with various textures and symbols, against a white background.

Left to right: (left) Sari Dienes, "Street Mix II", c. 1953, ink rubbing on canvas, 33 inch diameter; (center) Sari Dienes, "Street Mix", c. 1953, ink rubbing on canvas, 42 inch diameter; (right) Sari Dienes, "CTBESCO", c. 1953Ink rubbing on paper, 35 inch diameter. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photos: Joseph Hu.

a book and various black and white and sepia toned photographs are arranged on a pedestal and encased under plexiglass.

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

a large ink rubbing of a gravestone sits on a white pedestal encased in plexiglass.

Sari Dienes, "William Bradford" (installation view), 1953, ink rubbing on Webril, 20 x 27 inches. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

an ink rubbing on paper hangs on a white wall.

Sari Dienes, "DWS" (installation view), c. 1953, ink rubbing on Webril, 43 x 39 inches. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

a framed drawing composed of a grid of black cross-hatch markings on a white background

Sari Dienes, "Checker Hatch" (installation view), c. 1951, 13 x 20 inches (framed). Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

gallery view of large multicolored paintings hanging on the left, right and central walls.

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

three large work hang in a horizontal row. From left to right, the canvases are mainly orange, blue and white/

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

four multicolored works hang horizontally on a white wall

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

a multicolored projection appears on the central wall of a gallery space.

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

three works are installed in a gallery space. Two 2-d Works hang along the back wall. A tall sculptural works in the foreground is situated between the other two works pictured.

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

multiple works of various media appear installed in a gallery space. An abstract painting hangs above a marble fireplace in the center of the image.

Installation view. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of the Sari Dienes Foundation and Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

a framed work with a primarily blue background that fades to a light gray at the bottom of the canvas features an abstract form of organge red and brown thin lines.

Sari Dienes, "Sky Drip" (installation view), 1946, oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches. Copyright © Sari Dienes Foundation/Licensed by Artists Rights Society, New York, NY. Courtesy of Pavel Zoubok Fine Art, NY. Photo: Joseph Hu.

a gallery installed with Sari Dienes work. A large multipanel abstract work on a white pedestal is in the center of the image. In the background are three floor ceiling windows with two framed works hung between them
an gallery installation shot featuring a large multipaneled work on a white pedestal in the center of the image. In the background work of a variety of sizes and media hangs along a large white wall
installation shot of two framed multicolored abstract works hangining between three large wood framed windows
installation shot of three multisized works of various media hanging on a white while. All three works have neutral, monochromatic palettes
a gallery installation shot featuring works on pedestals located around the room and multicolored framed works hanging on the right wall.
three framed works installed in a horizontal row on a white wall. Each composition includes a round mutlicolored central shape, with various textures and symbols, against a white background.
a book and various black and white and sepia toned photographs are arranged on a pedestal and encased under plexiglass.
a large ink rubbing of a gravestone sits on a white pedestal encased in plexiglass.
an ink rubbing on paper hangs on a white wall.
a framed drawing composed of a grid of black cross-hatch markings on a white background
gallery view of large multicolored paintings hanging on the left, right and central walls.
three large work hang in a horizontal row. From left to right, the canvases are mainly orange, blue and white/
four multicolored works hang horizontally on a white wall
a multicolored projection appears on the central wall of a gallery space.
three works are installed in a gallery space. Two 2-d Works hang along the back wall. A tall sculptural works in the foreground is situated between the other two works pictured.
multiple works of various media appear installed in a gallery space. An abstract painting hangs above a marble fireplace in the center of the image.
a framed work with a primarily blue background that fades to a light gray at the bottom of the canvas features an abstract form of organge red and brown thin lines.

About the Artist

 

A brief litany of Sari Dienes’ life only begins to point to her importance. She was born Sari Chylinska in Hungary in October 1898. In her late teens she studied dance under Raymond Duncan, the brother of Isadora. She married Paul Dienes at age 24. After moving to Wales for work, she began working in textile design. In her 30s, she decided to become a visual artist and studied with Fernand Leger, Ande L'hote and Amadee Ozenfant. 

She was later appointed assistant director of the Ozenfant School in London, where she hired the young Henry Moore. During a trip to the United States in 1939, she was stranded due to World War II. In the 1940s, Dienes exhibited at the New School, studied printmaking with Stanley Hayter, and taught at Parsons School of Design, the Brooklyn Museum School of Art andi in her own studio. She attended The Club and showed her abstract work at Betty Parsons Gallery. 

Her junk constructions were included in MoMA's Art of Assemblage exhibit. In her 70s, Dienes moved to Stony Point near John Cage and Merce Cunningham. She experimented with color Xerox, made silkscreen murals for the New York State House and became a founding member of AIR Gallery, the first women's cooperative in New York.