Jennifer Bartlett (American, 1941-2022)

Paintings

Who is painter Jennifer Bartlett?

Jennifer Bartlett is an American painter and conceptual artist whose Neo-expressionist works are often painted on small squares of enamel-coated steel plates. These pieces are then combined in grids to create large scale works. Bartlett has also explored many other mediums, sometimes within the same piece. Her pieces are in the collection of The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Tate Modern, and the Whitney among several others.

Critics throughout the years have responded favorably to nearly all of Bartlett’s work. She has been described as one of the best painters of the Postminimalism era. Her pieces are often considered to have an energetic, torrential feel that many other conceptual artists either can’t achieve or eschew all together. Since 1985 she’s been the subject of numerous career retrospectives, including at the Brooklyn Museum and the New York Museum of Modern Art.

What kind of art does Jennifer Bartlett make?

Jennifer Bartlett is a conceptual painter whose work often takes the form of small squares of enamel-coated steel plates. Those squares are formed into grids, giving her work a large scale feel that allows familiar objects to become unfamiliar. Her subjects are often mundane, every-day objects such as houses and gardens, but these subjects are treated to both representational and realistic interpretations that combine to form polyptychs of meaning. In interviews, Bartlett says she rejects the separation of figurative and abstract art and as such much of her work deals with perception and shifting perspective.

How did painter Jennifer Bartlett get started?

Jennifer Bartlett was born in 1941 in Long Beach, California. Her parents were decidedly middle class, though her mother was a fashion illustrator early in life. From an early age, Bartlett was obsessed with the ocean -- a theme that recurred in her work as an adult. She attended Mills College of Oakland where she received a BA, then followed this with an MFA from the Yale School of Art and Architecture. Bartlett says that her studies at Yale brought about the biggest shift in her art where her influences included Arshile Gorky, Mondrian, and Sol LeWitt. In 1972, she moved to New York where she began teaching at the School of Visual Arts. By this time her art was widely renowned and respected by both the art establishment and her peers.

How much are Jennifer Bartlett paintings worth?

Jennifer Bartlett is one of the most prized American Neo-expressionists and as such her paintings can sell for anywhere between $15,000 for minor works to over $200,000 for major pieces. Her highest-selling painting at auction is Four A.M. (1991-1992) which sold for $262,500 on May 15th, 2019. This represented a 556% increase over its initial high estimate. Bartlett’s highest-selling piece for Heritage Auctions is Swimmers and Rafts, Jumble (1979) which sold for $81,250 on May 24th, 2018.

Where to buy Jennifer Bartlett paintings for sale?

See works for sale below. Why buy from Heritage? Art buyers feel confident because our experts know the market and put careful valuations on artwork for sale. We make the bidding process easier to help you expand your art collection.

How to value Jennifer Bartlett paintings?

The best way to value art is to compare past auction prices for similar works. View past sale prices below. When you’re ready to sell, contact Heritage Auctions to request an auction estimate of the likely selling price at auction. If you need a formal written appraisal for estate planning or insurance, please contact our Appraisal Services department.