Alan Shields

<i>Handle with Care #1</i>, 1989
Acrylic and thread on canvas
73 x 71 1/4 inches (185.4 x 181 cm)

Handle with Care #1, 1989
Acrylic and thread on canvas
73 x 71 1/4 inches (185.4 x 181 cm)

<i>Handle with Care #2</i>, 1989
Acrylic and thread on canvas
70 3/4 x 71 1/2 inches (179.7 x 181.6 cm)

Handle with Care #2, 1989
Acrylic and thread on canvas
70 3/4 x 71 1/2 inches (179.7 x 181.6 cm)

<i>Ajax</i>, 1972-3
Acrylic, cotton belting, beads, thread, aluminum tubing
96 x 96 inches (243.8 x 243.8 cm)

Ajax, 1972-3
Acrylic, cotton belting, beads, thread, aluminum tubing
96 x 96 inches (243.8 x 243.8 cm)

<i>The Small Scale Mile High Bottom</i>, 1988
Acrylic and thread on canvas
71 3/4 x 90 3/4 inches (182.2 x 230.5 cm)

The Small Scale Mile High Bottom, 1988
Acrylic and thread on canvas
71 3/4 x 90 3/4 inches (182.2 x 230.5 cm)

<i>GREEN·EYED-GREEDEY-GUT-EAT-The Whole World Up</i>, 1983
Acrylic, thread on canvas
84 x 70 1/2 inches (213.4 x 179.1 cm)

GREEN·EYED-GREEDEY-GUT-EAT-The Whole World Up, 1983
Acrylic, thread on canvas
84 x 70 1/2 inches (213.4 x 179.1 cm)

<i>Dance Bag</i>, 1985
Acrylic, canvas, glass beads, thread on aluminum tubing
Height: 40 inches (101.6 cm)
Diameter: 48 inches (121.9 cm)

Dance Bag, 1985
Acrylic, canvas, glass beads, thread on aluminum tubing
Height: 40 inches (101.6 cm)
Diameter: 48 inches (121.9 cm)

<i>Pheebe's Natural Swimming Action</i>, 1980-81
Acrylic, thread on canvas
114 1/2 x 147 inches (290.8 x 373.4 cm)

Pheebe's Natural Swimming Action, 1980-81
Acrylic, thread on canvas
114 1/2 x 147 inches (290.8 x 373.4 cm)

<i>K.E.C.</i>, 1985-86
Watercolor, block printing, glitter, stitching on handmade paper
46 1/4 inches (117.5 cm) diameter

K.E.C., 1985-86
Watercolor, block printing, glitter, stitching on handmade paper
46 1/4 inches (117.5 cm) diameter

<i>Reip Red River Rip or Honest to God Indian Soo</i>, 1971-73
Wood, acrylic, canvas, beads
82 x 24 inches (208.3 x 61 cm)

Reip Red River Rip or Honest to God Indian Soo, 1971-73
Wood, acrylic, canvas, beads
82 x 24 inches (208.3 x 61 cm)

<i>Seal Box</i>, 1984-85
Watercolor, thread on multi-layered handmade paper
21 x 25 inches (53.3 x 63.5 cm)

Seal Box, 1984-85
Watercolor, thread on multi-layered handmade paper
21 x 25 inches (53.3 x 63.5 cm)

<i>Finger Lickin'</i>, 1974-76
Acrylic, thread, rope, string and beads on canvas
118 x 113 inches (299.7 x 287 cm)

Finger Lickin', 1974-76
Acrylic, thread, rope, string and beads on canvas
118 x 113 inches (299.7 x 287 cm)

<i>Something Goin' On & On</i>, 1984
Acrylic on canvas
71 x 71 inches (180.3 x 180.3 cm)

Something Goin' On & On, 1984
Acrylic on canvas
71 x 71 inches (180.3 x 180.3 cm)

<i>Tin Man</i>, 1988
Watercolor, thread on handmade paper
24 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches (62.2 x 62.2 cm)

Tin Man, 1988
Watercolor, thread on handmade paper
24 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches (62.2 x 62.2 cm)

<i>Single Swing Encounter</i>, 1980-81
Acrylic, thread on canvas
109 x 115 inches (276.9 x 292.1 cm)

Single Swing Encounter, 1980-81
Acrylic, thread on canvas
109 x 115 inches (276.9 x 292.1 cm)

<i>Star Crossed Worm Voyage</i>, 1997
Acrylic, thread, yarn on canvas
47 1/4 x 47 1/4 inches (120 x 120 cm)

Star Crossed Worm Voyage, 1997
Acrylic, thread, yarn on canvas
47 1/4 x 47 1/4 inches (120 x 120 cm)

Alan Shields

Born in Herington, Kansas (1944). Attended Kansas State University (1963-66). In college studied civil engineering and studio art. Studied the work of Buckminster Fuller. Participated in Summer Theater Workshops at the University of Maine (1966-67). Moved to New York City (1968). Showed with Paula Cooper Gallery (1968- 1991). Begins three-dimensional, two-sided paintings (1970). Purchased a house on Shelter Island, but kept studio in New York City (1971). Took up permanent residence on Shelter Island (1972). Focused on print and papermaking and made over thirty editions between 1971 – 1974. Received Guggenheim Fellowship and traveled in South America for three months (1973). Went to the Ahmadabad retreat in India (1980). Died in Shelter Island, NY (2005). Museum exhibitions include: Stirring Up the Waters, Parrish Art Museum, Southampton, NY (2007); Alan Shields: A Survey, The Beach Museum of Art, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (1999); 1968 – 1983: The Work of Alan Shields, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, TN (1983), traveled to Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, FL and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO; Alan Shields: Paintings and Prints, Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, MA (1981). Included in museum collections such as the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Museum of art, New York, NY, Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, NY, Tate Collection, London, UK, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY.

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