A new exhibition at salutes a modernist artist who had a significant influence on two continents during the 20th century.
鈥淛ean H茅lion, Painting Is a Language: Paris, New York, Rockbridge Baths,鈥 on display from October 3 鈥 December 15, showcases the artist best known for his early modernist paintings, prints, and drawings; his affiliation with important modernist artists working in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s; and being an important intermediary between European and American modernist artists in Paris and New York.
鈥淗ollins has enjoyed an 80-year association with H茅lion, which began in 1943-44, and this exhibit features works from the Wilson Museum’s permanent collection, augmented by artwork from the collection of Louis and Suzanne Blair,鈥 says Wilson Museum Director Jenine Culligan. 鈥淭he exhibition includes sketches and drawings from H茅lion鈥檚 studio, many of which have never been on public view.鈥
H茅lion (1904-1987) first visited the U.S. in 1932 after marrying Jean Blair, a Virginia native. He spent the next 14 years living between Paris, New York, and Rockbridge Baths, Va.
鈥淭his period witnessed profound events in H茅lion鈥檚 life,鈥 Culligan notes, 鈥渋ncluding his internment in a Nazi prisoner of war camp from 1940-42 and his evolution from a purely abstract artist to a painter of modern objects, scenes, and people.鈥
She adds, 鈥淭his exhibition traces H茅lion鈥檚 artistic style throughout his decades-long career. He believed that 鈥榩ainting is a language鈥 and viewed art as a connecting, creative force that allowed for the simultaneous expression of multiple dimensions of experience and imagination.鈥
The 鈥渢wo Jeans鈥 had a son, Louis, who in 2016 donated to the Wilson Museum what Culligan calls 鈥渁 treasure trove鈥 of almost 400 sketches, drawings, prints, and small paintings by his father. This large gift was preceded by four works given in honor of Professor of Art Emeritus Bill White鈥檚 retirement from Hollins in 2010 and followed by additional gifts in 2017, 2018, and 2024, thus giving Hollins the largest collection of works by H茅lion in the U.S.
鈥淛ean H茅lion, Painting is a Language: Paris, New York, Rockbridge Baths鈥 is co-curated by Culligan and Associate Professor of Art History Genevieve Hendricks. The exhibition and its associated programs are sponsored in part by the City of Roanoke through the Roanoke Arts Commission, and is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue, made possible by Suzanne Blair. It includes a foreword by Hollins President Mary Dana Hinton; essays by Culligan, Hendricks, and White; a painting memoir by Suzanne Blair; and a chronology of H茅lion鈥檚 life compiled by Anna Woods 鈥26. The catalogue was designed by Wilson Museum Assistant Director Laura Jane Ramsburg with photos by Laura Carden, visitor programs and services coordinator.
The Wilson Museum will host an opening lecture on Thursday, October 3, at 5:30 p.m. A reception will follow.
The Wilson Museum is open Tuesday 鈥 Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., and Thursday, noon 鈥 8 p.m. (closed Monday). Admission is always free.
Image: Jean H茅lion, Untitled, 1944. Ink and watercolor on paper, 4 5/16 x 8 1/4鈥.
Gift of the family of Jean H茅lion. Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University, 2016.008.039.
