Eight Books, 1977
Lowell Nesbitt (1933–1993) was an American artist known for his large-scale figurative paintings and meticulous attention to detail. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Nesbitt studied at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia before moving to New York City, where he quickly established himself in the art scene. Nesbitt's early works were influenced by abstract expressionism, but he soon developed his unique style, characterized by precise, masterful renderings of landscapes, flowers, the human figure, and various other subjects.
Nesbitt's paintings often featured bold colors and dynamic compositions, showcasing his mastery of light and shadow. His meticulous approach gave his work a photographic quality, inviting viewers to explore the intricacies of his subjects. Nesbitt's use of scale was also striking, with many of his paintings featuring larger-than-life figures that commanded attention and created a sense of drama.
In 1969, Nesbitt was commissioned by NASA to create a painting commemorating the Apollo 11 moon landing. The resulting work, "The Great Moment," depicted the lunar module Eagle on the surface of the moon, with astronaut Neil Armstrong taking his historic first steps. This painting was part of a series of 17 paintings Nesbitt created to honor the Apollo 11 mission and the moon landing, known as the "Moon Series." These paintings were widely acclaimed for their dramatic portrayal of the historic event and solidified Nesbitt's reputation as a master artist.
Nesbitt's work is held in the collections of many prestigious institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Tate Modern in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, among others.
Nesbitt's paintings often featured bold colors and dynamic compositions, showcasing his mastery of light and shadow. His meticulous approach gave his work a photographic quality, inviting viewers to explore the intricacies of his subjects. Nesbitt's use of scale was also striking, with many of his paintings featuring larger-than-life figures that commanded attention and created a sense of drama.
In 1969, Nesbitt was commissioned by NASA to create a painting commemorating the Apollo 11 moon landing. The resulting work, "The Great Moment," depicted the lunar module Eagle on the surface of the moon, with astronaut Neil Armstrong taking his historic first steps. This painting was part of a series of 17 paintings Nesbitt created to honor the Apollo 11 mission and the moon landing, known as the "Moon Series." These paintings were widely acclaimed for their dramatic portrayal of the historic event and solidified Nesbitt's reputation as a master artist.
Nesbitt's work is held in the collections of many prestigious institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Tate Modern in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, among others.