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Wallace Sommers
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Wallace Sommers (1924-2008)
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Wallace Sommers, born in Fresno, California, developed a deep connection to French art after his military service in Europe during World War II. Discharged in Paris in 1945, he studied figure painting at the prestigious Académie Julian and later worked as an artist in Germany, where he was mentored by the noted abstract artist Paul Fontaine. Sommers married a French woman, further solidifying his bond with France, and his love for the country remained central to his work and life. When Sommers moved back to the SF Bay Area he opened his own design studio which he ran until his retirement and moved to the Sonoma area to paint full time. Sommers had his first one-man show in the Santa Rosa County Museum in California.
Sommers is known for his lyrical, dreamlike depictions of women, particularly in his "Women in Reverie" series which was painted in the 1980s. These works, inspired by Art Deco and the French tradition of the odalisque, capture women in serene repose, enveloped in harmonious color and gentle, flowing forms. His use of color and composition, influenced by French artists like Matisse, creates an emotionally resonant atmosphere.In Sommers’ work, female figures emerge in a surreal setting, framed by a rich mosaic of color patches that both enclose them and define the shadowed space between them. Depth is suggested yet contradicted by the flat patterns and opaque hues, creating a subtle tension. As the figures engage from across the room, a dynamic polarity unfolds within the compressed space. The kaleidoscopic interplay of color and the enigmatic juxtaposition of the figures evoke a striking and thought-provoking image. Sommers’ nudes are not erotic but rather celebrate the feminine form with a sense of peace and admiration, often reflecting themes of love, beauty, and spiritual connection. His work combines a Neoclassical sensibility with the elegance of French artistic tradition, presenting women in a mythological world of fantasy and reflection.
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