Curt Hoppe, The Clincher, Photograph (C-Print) with paint strokes referencing color, 2002. Size: 16 x 20 inches — Price on Request
Hyper-realist painter Curt Hoppe is best known for his Downtown Portraits, a series of monumental, larger-than-life paintings of downtown artists first seen in 2019 in a two-gallery exhibition at Howl!Happening, and the Frank Bernarducci Gallery. This Gallery 98 newsletter focuses on an earlier phase of Hoppe’s career, the five years from 1997 to 2002 when his subject was the Hamptons.
As the only contemporary artist in an East Hampton gallery that specialized in 19th and early 20th century art, Hoppe made paintings of sites connected to the “East End of yore.” A former sign painter in his youth, Hoppe was especially attuned to including local signage that clearly identified his Hamptons subject matter. These were productive and lucrative years for Hoppe, who in the course of a five-year period, produced close to 100 paintings, all of which sold for substantial prices.
On a recent visit to Hoppe’s studio, Gallery 98 inquired about work from the Hamptons years. We were especially happy to find a collection of the large, original photographs that were printed for use as reference while working on the Hamptons paintings. The paint strokes along the edges of the photographs were made to confirm the accuracy of the color.
See more: Hoppe photographs, prints and ephemera.
Curt Hoppe, Dreesen’s Market (East Hampton), “From original painting by Curt Hoppe oil/linnen 1999,” SIGNED Poster from an edition of 250, 1999. Size: 21 x 27 inches — Request Price
Hoppe painted approximately 15 variations of his Dressen’s donut still-life. This version, that reduces the image to its basic core, was the most popular. It received wide distribution as an offset poster.
Curt Hoppe, Wallace Gallery Catalogues, 2000 & 2002
(L): Curt Hoppe, East End Paintings, Text by John Esten, Wallace Gallery, 24-Page Catalogue, 2000. Size: 8 x 9.5 inches
(R): Curt Hoppe, Hampton’s This Hampton’s That, 12 Page Exhibition Catalogue, Wallace Gallery, 2002. Size: 8 x 9.5 inches
Hoppe exhibited with Wallace Gallery that specialized in paintings from the late 19th century and early 20th century by artists who were part of the Hamptons art colony. The catalogue Curt Hoppe – East End – Paintings features Hoppe’s painting Sunny Side Up as a wraparound cover. The 2002 catalogue uses The Clincher as its cover.
Views of the Hamptons
Curt Hoppe, Homemade Ice Cream, Photograph (C-Print) with paint strokes referencing color, 2000. Size: 16 x 20 inches — Request Price
At a time when the small towns of the Hamptons were gradually being transformed by new stores catering to wealthy newcomers, Hoppe kept his focus on iconic Mom and Pop businesses like Candy Kitchen in Bridgehampton, a 1950s luncheonette with an old style neon “Soda” sign.
Curt Hoppe, Sunny Side Up, SIGNED Inkjet Print on Epson Archival Paper, 2000. Size: 18.5 x 24 inches — Request Price
In addition to selling his original paintings, Hoppe also produced high quality signed reproductions printed on thick archival paper. Everyone who visits the Hamptons is likely to encounter this scene, since Iacono Farm is located on Long Lane, one of the main roads that connect the bay with the beach.
See more items by Curt Hoppe
Catalogue: Downtown Portraits 2010 – 2019
