Earl Cavis Kerkam Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Earl Cavis Kerkam Art Value Price Guide

Jun. 12, 2026
Earl Kerkam (American, 1891-1965) Untitled, 1953
Est: $500 - $700
Earl Kerkam (American, 1891-1965) Untitled, 1953 gouache on paper signed Kerkam and dated (lower right) 18 x 14 inches. This lot is located in Chicago.
Freeman’s
May. 14, 2026
Earl Cavis Kerkam, Still Life.
Est: $1,200 - $1,800
Earl Cavis Kerkam (1890-1965) Still Life. Oil on masonite. Signed in pencil at upper right.
Swann Auction Galleries
Feb. 27, 2026
Earl Cavis Kerkam. Figure Study, watercolor
Est: $500 - $1,500
(American, 1891-1965) Gouache and pastel on tan wove paper, circa 1950, signed "Kerkam" lr, sight size: 20 x 13 1/2 in., framed size: 26 1/4 x 19 in.
Alex Cooper
Feb. 12, 2026
EARL CAVIS KERKAM, (American 1891-1965). Portrait of a man with glasses, possibly a self-portrait of the artist, 24 x 20 inches; frame: 30 x 26 inches
Est: $1,000 - $1,200
EARL CAVIS KERKAM American, 1891-1965 Oil on canvas. Signed lower right. Framed.
Sloans & Kenyon
Jan. 29, 2026
Earl Cavis Kerkam, Still Life.
Est: $1,500 - $2,500
Earl Cavis Kerkam (1890-1965) Still Life. Oil on masonite. Signed in pencil at upper right.
Swann Auction Galleries
Jan. 29, 2026
Earl Cavis Kerkam, Self Portrait.
Est: $1,500 - $2,500
Earl Cavis Kerkam (1890-1965) Self Portrait. Oil on board. Incised with signature, verso.
Swann Auction Galleries
Jan. 23, 2026
Earl Cavis Kerkam. Figure Study, watercolor
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
(American, 1891-1965) Gouache and pastel on tan wove paper, circa 1950, signed "Kerkam" lr, sight size: 20 x 13 1/2 in., framed size: 26 1/4 x 19 in.
Alex Cooper
Jan. 22, 2026
Earl Kerkam "Self Portrait Abstraction" Oil, 1957
Est: $1,500 - $2,500
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1891-1965), "Self Portrait (Abstraction)", Oil on Panel, 1957, signed lower left, The American Gallery and Zabriskie Gallery labels verso, wood frame with gilt border. Image: 23.75" H x 19.75" W; frame: 25" H x 21" W x 1.5" D. Provenance: From an Amawalk, New York Collection. Keywords: Paintings, Oil painting, Works on Board, Abstract Composition, Abstract Expressionist, Abstract Expressionism, AbEx, Polychrome, Post-War and Contemporary Art
Auctions at Showplace
Oct. 28, 2025
Earl Kerkam, Dance; Self Portrait; Untitled (Nude) (three works)
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
Earl Kerkam Dance; Self Portrait; Untitled (Nude) (three works) 1952/c. 1955 ink and pastel on paper sight: 14.75 h x 10.75 w in (37 x 27 cm) sight: 14.5 h x 12.625 w in (37 x 32 cm) sight: 13.875 h x 11.25 w in (35 x 29 cm) Signed to lower right of each work 'Kerkam'. Provenance: Private Collection, New Jersey | Acquired from the previous in 2023 by the present owner Exhibited: Earl Kerkam Memorial Exhibition, 13 May - 26 June 1966, The Washington Gallery of Modern Art, Washington, D.C. (Self Portrait) This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Toomey & Co. Auctioneers
Sep. 04, 2025
Earl Cavis Kerkam Nude Figure Watercolor on Paper
Est: $300 - $500
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1891-1965), Nude Figure, Watercolor on Paper, signed in pencil, wood frame. Image: 16.5" H x 11" W; frame: 25" H x 19" W x 1.5" D. Provenance: From a New York City Collection. Keywords: Painting, Watercolour, Gouache, Works on Paper, Figurative, Figural, Pink, Black, Abstract Expressionism, Abstract Expressionist, Post-War and Contemporary Art, 20th Century Art
Auctions at Showplace
Jun. 26, 2025
EARL CAVIS KERKAM (New York/Washington, D.C./France, 1891-1965), "Self Portrait 58"., Oil on board, 24" x 19". Framed 24.75" x 19.75".
Est: $800 - $1,200
EARL CAVIS KERKAM New York/Washington, D.C./France, 1891-1965 "Self Portrait 58". Signed upper right "Kerkam". World House Galleries and Contemporary Arts labels verso.
Eldred's
Jun. 12, 2025
EARL CAVIS KERKAM (AMERICAN, 1891-1965).
Est: $300 - $500
'Portrait of a Woman with Red Hair'. Oil on canvas board. Signed upper right corner. From the estate of Taussig, Riverside Drive, Manhattan. Tina Regina-Leopoldine Blau (1845 - 1916). Dimensions: 19.50" h x 15.75" w. Frame: 27.75" h x 24.25" w.
Clarke Auction Gallery
May. 08, 2025
EARL CAVIS KERKAM (New York/Washington, D.C./France, 1891-1965), "Self Portrait, 1951"., Oil on board, 14.5" x 11.5". Framed under glass 23" x 18".
Est: $800 - $1,200
EARL CAVIS KERKAM New York/Washington, D.C./France, 1891-1965 "Self Portrait, 1951". Signed lower right "Kerkam". Titled on gallery label verso.
Eldred's
Apr. 29, 2025
EARL CAVIS KERKAM (New York/Washington, D.C./France, 1891-1965), Two nude studies
Est: $400 - $600
EARL CAVIS KERKAM New York/Washington, D.C./France, 1891-1965 Two nude studies: 1) Paris nude, 1953. Signed, dated and inscribed "Kerkam Paris 53" upper right. Brush and ink with yellow pastels, 15.75" x 10" sight. Framed 22" x 18.25". 2) Female nude from behind. Signed lower right "Kerkam". Brush and ink with yellow pastels, 14.25" x 9.5" sight. Framed 22" x 18.25".
Eldred's
Apr. 10, 2025
EARL KERKAM VINTAGE STILL LIFE PAINTING. DECORATIVE FRAME.
Est: $80 - $120
EARL KERKAM Vintage Still Life Painting. Decorative Frame. Dimensions: Frame Height: 13.5 inches, Frame Width: 20 inches. - Image Size: Image Height: 6 inches, Image Width: 12.5 inches. --- US Packing and Shipping charge: In house shipping available. Will be calculated once destination known. Plus required insurance at a rate of $2 per hundred. - We offer curbside delivery for most items to NYC, Manhattan, Close Brooklyn, Hoboken about a week after the auction at reasonable rates. Next Trip April 16. See details at our website. https://www.uniquesandantiques.com/nyc/
Uniques & Antiques
Feb. 19, 2025
Earl Cavis Kerkam, American (1890-1965), signed exhibition catalog, 2 exhibition advertisements, and 2 pages from Art News highlighting the artist. 6"H x 9"W (cards)
Est: -
Earl Cavis Kerkam, American (1890-1965), signed exhibition catalog, 2 exhibition advertisements, and 2 pages from Art News highlighting the artist. Signed World House Galleries, NY, 1963 exhibition catalog, 2 Zabriskie Gallery, NY, 1970 exhibition cards featuring a female nude, 1973 page from Art News that includes a critique of Kerkam's exhibit at Zabriskie, 1978 page from Art News with an advertisement for Kerkam's exhibit at Zabriskie.
Ripley Auctions
Feb. 04, 2025
Earl Kerkam, Self-Portrait in Orange
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
Earl Kerkam Self-Portrait in Orange 1964 oil on board 17.875 h x 14.5 w in (45 x 37 cm) Signed to upper right 'Kerkam'. Provenance: B.C. Holland Gallery, Chicago | Private Collection Exhibited: Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary American Painting and Sculpture, 7 March - 11 April 1965, Krannert Art Museum, University of Illinois, Champaign This work will ship from Chicago, Illinois.
Toomey & Co. Auctioneers
Dec. 21, 2024
Work on paper, Earl Cavis Kerkam
Est: $150 - $250
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1891-1965), Girl in Green, 1926, pastel and ink on paper, signed and dated lower right, sheet (unframed): 12"h x 16"w
Clars Auctions
Nov. 23, 2024
Work on paper, Earl Cavis Kerkam
Est: $300 - $500
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1891-1965), Girl in Green, 1926, pastel and ink on paper, signed and dated lower right, sheet (unframed): 12"h x 16"w
Clars Auctions
Jul. 11, 2024
Earl Kerkam, Nude
Est: $500 - $700
Earl Kerkam Nude 1951-53 watercolor and crayon on paper sight: 16.75 h x 11.5 w in (43 x 29 cm) Signed to lower right 'Kerkam (EBK)'. Sold with an invoice from Donald Morris Gallery, Inc., Birmingham, MI and related documents. Provenance: Donald Morris Gallery, Inc., Birmingham, MI | Acquired from the previous in 1977, Collection of Martin and Enid Packard This work will ship from Chicago, Illinois.
Wright
Jul. 10, 2024
Earl Cavis Kerkam, New York, District of Columbia / France (1890-1965), portrait, 1945, oil on board, 13"H x 9 3/4"W (sight), 20"H x 17"W (frame)
Est: $200 - $300
Earl Cavis Kerkam New York, District of Columbia / France, (1890-1965) portrait, 1945 oil on board Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: Earl Kerkam abandoned a well-paid career as a commercial artist to study painting. He studied at the Rand School, the Art Student's League, and the School of Design, before moving to France to continue his studies. In Paris, he attended the Academies de la Grand Chaumiere and the Academy Colorossi from 1924 to 1929. He was in charge of the American Art Gallery in Paris for a brief period. He exhibited some of his paintings along with Andre Derrain, a member of Henri Matisse's circle, Les Fauves. After the Great Depression began, he returned to America. In the early 1930s he was the art editor for "Progress" magazine. From 1933 to 1943 he was employed with the Easel Project of the Works Progress Administration, where he worked with Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, among others. During World War II, he created posters for the New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. The posters were designed to promote wartime conservation of natural resources. In the late 1940s, Kerkam became involved with The Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, an organization devoted to making the public and the press more aware of the importance and diversity of non-academic art. The Federation developed what was, at the time, a unique method of encouraging museums to include contemporary works of art in their collections. The Federation would find donors to purchase the works, and then approach museums to accept them. As a result, museums across the country began accepting contemporary art. Although he never experienced much fame with the general public, Kerkam garnered the respect of other artists because of his devotion to painting. He worked mostly in still life and figures, particularly in self-portraits, in part because he could seldom afford to hire models. He was very cognizant of the traditions of modern painting, so he returned consistently to the paintings of Paul Cezanne and the cubists for inspiration. However, Kerkam's paintings remained too tied to tradition, both with regard to subject matter and form, to ever be included among any of the abstract expressionists. As a result, he is rarely mentioned in discussions of the period. His paintings were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Mellon Galleries. He taught briefly at the New York Studio School before his death in 1965. Submitted February 2005 by Gene C. Gerard, teacher of American history at Tarrant County College in suburban Dallas. He wrote: "I am working on a book that looks at the homefront contributions of various Americans during World War I and II. One of the individuals I've researched is the painter Earl Kerkam. As such, I have written this biography". My sources for the biography are as follows: * "The Most Difficult Journey," by Beth Harris, Exhibits USA, for The Poindexter Collections of American Modernist Painting Programming Guide * "1934 - 1942: An Important Time in the Development of American Graphic Design," an M.A. Thesis by Erin K. Malone, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994 * "The School - Its History," the New York Studio School * "The Federation in Retrospect" by Dora Ashton, http://www.fedart.org
Ripley Auctions
Jun. 27, 2024
Earl Kerkam, Two Drawings of Women, 1950s
Est: $600 - $800
(New York/District of Columbia, 1891-1965) Standing Nude, signed lower right "Kerkam", watercolor on paper, 16-5/8 x 11-3/4 in., metal frame, sight 23-3/4 x 18-1/2 x 7/8 in.; Profile of Woman with Curly Hair, signed lower right "Kerkam", ink on paper, sight 13-3/4 x 14 in., gilt wood frame, silk mat, 24-1/2 x 24-1/4 x 1-1/2 in. Provenance: Private Collection
Brunk Auctions
Jun. 27, 2024
Earl Cavis Kerkam, Still Life
Est: $600 - $800
(New York/District of Columbia, 1891-1965) Gladiolas, 1963, signed lower right "Kerkam", oil on canvas board, 15-7/8 x 8-7/8 in.; modern frame, 21-3/4 x 14-3/4 x 1-3/4 in. Provenance: Private Collection
Brunk Auctions
Apr. 24, 2024
EARL CAVIS KERKAM (New York/District of Columbia/France, 1891-1965), Portrait., Oil on board, 26" x 20". Unframed.
Est: $800 - $1,200
EARL CAVIS KERKAM New York/District of Columbia/France, 1891-1965 Portrait. Unsigned. Estate stamped verso.
Eldred's
Mar. 30, 2024
Earl Cavis Kerkam, New York, District of Columbia / France (1890-1965), female portrait, oil on board, 15 1/4"H x 12"W (sight), 22 1/8"H x 18 3/4"W (frame)
Est: $200 - $300
Earl Cavis Kerkam New York, District of Columbia / France, (1890-1965) female portrait oil on board Signed lower right and verso. Biography from the Archives of askART: Earl Kerkam abandoned a well-paid career as a commercial artist to study painting. He studied at the Rand School, the Art Student's League, and the School of Design, before moving to France to continue his studies. In Paris, he attended the Academies de la Grand Chaumiere and the Academy Colorossi from 1924 to 1929. He was in charge of the American Art Gallery in Paris for a brief period. He exhibited some of his paintings along with Andre Derrain, a member of Henri Matisse's circle, Les Fauves. After the Great Depression began, he returned to America. In the early 1930s he was the art editor for "Progress" magazine. From 1933 to 1943 he was employed with the Easel Project of the Works Progress Administration, where he worked with Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, among others. During World War II, he created posters for the New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. The posters were designed to promote wartime conservation of natural resources. In the late 1940s, Kerkam became involved with The Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, an organization devoted to making the public and the press more aware of the importance and diversity of non-academic art. The Federation developed what was, at the time, a unique method of encouraging museums to include contemporary works of art in their collections. The Federation would find donors to purchase the works, and then approach museums to accept them. As a result, museums across the country began accepting contemporary art. Although he never experienced much fame with the general public, Kerkam garnered the respect of other artists because of his devotion to painting. He worked mostly in still life and figures, particularly in self-portraits, in part because he could seldom afford to hire models. He was very cognizant of the traditions of modern painting, so he returned consistently to the paintings of Paul Cezanne and the cubists for inspiration. However, Kerkam's paintings remained too tied to tradition, both with regard to subject matter and form, to ever be included among any of the abstract expressionists. As a result, he is rarely mentioned in discussions of the period. His paintings were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Mellon Galleries. He taught briefly at the New York Studio School before his death in 1965. Submitted February 2005 by Gene C. Gerard, teacher of American history at Tarrant County College in suburban Dallas. He wrote: "I am working on a book that looks at the homefront contributions of various Americans during World War I and II. One of the individuals I've researched is the painter Earl Kerkam. As such, I have written this biography". My sources for the biography are as follows: * "The Most Difficult Journey," by Beth Harris, Exhibits USA, for The Poindexter Collections of American Modernist Painting Programming Guide * "1934 - 1942: An Important Time in the Development of American Graphic Design," an M.A. Thesis by Erin K. Malone, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994 * "The School - Its History," the New York Studio School * "The Federation in Retrospect" by Dora Ashton, http://www.fedart.org
Ripley Auctions
Mar. 30, 2024
Earl Cavis Kerkam, New York, District of Columbia / France (1890-1965), portrait, oil on canvas, 14"H x 9 1/4"W (sight), 21"H x 16 1/4"W (frame)
Est: $200 - $300
Earl Cavis Kerkam New York, District of Columbia / France, (1890-1965) portrait oil on canvas Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: Earl Kerkam abandoned a well-paid career as a commercial artist to study painting. He studied at the Rand School, the Art Student's League, and the School of Design, before moving to France to continue his studies. In Paris, he attended the Academies de la Grand Chaumiere and the Academy Colorossi from 1924 to 1929. He was in charge of the American Art Gallery in Paris for a brief period. He exhibited some of his paintings along with Andre Derrain, a member of Henri Matisse's circle, Les Fauves. After the Great Depression began, he returned to America. In the early 1930s he was the art editor for "Progress" magazine. From 1933 to 1943 he was employed with the Easel Project of the Works Progress Administration, where he worked with Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, among others. During World War II, he created posters for the New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. The posters were designed to promote wartime conservation of natural resources. In the late 1940s, Kerkam became involved with The Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, an organization devoted to making the public and the press more aware of the importance and diversity of non-academic art. The Federation developed what was, at the time, a unique method of encouraging museums to include contemporary works of art in their collections. The Federation would find donors to purchase the works, and then approach museums to accept them. As a result, museums across the country began accepting contemporary art. Although he never experienced much fame with the general public, Kerkam garnered the respect of other artists because of his devotion to painting. He worked mostly in still life and figures, particularly in self-portraits, in part because he could seldom afford to hire models. He was very cognizant of the traditions of modern painting, so he returned consistently to the paintings of Paul Cezanne and the cubists for inspiration. However, Kerkam's paintings remained too tied to tradition, both with regard to subject matter and form, to ever be included among any of the abstract expressionists. As a result, he is rarely mentioned in discussions of the period. His paintings were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Mellon Galleries. He taught briefly at the New York Studio School before his death in 1965. Submitted February 2005 by Gene C. Gerard, teacher of American history at Tarrant County College in suburban Dallas. He wrote: "I am working on a book that looks at the homefront contributions of various Americans during World War I and II. One of the individuals I've researched is the painter Earl Kerkam. As such, I have written this biography". My sources for the biography are as follows: * "The Most Difficult Journey," by Beth Harris, Exhibits USA, for The Poindexter Collections of American Modernist Painting Programming Guide * "1934 - 1942: An Important Time in the Development of American Graphic Design," an M.A. Thesis by Erin K. Malone, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994 * "The School - Its History," the New York Studio School * "The Federation in Retrospect" by Dora Ashton, http://www.fedart.org
Ripley Auctions
Mar. 30, 2024
Earl Cavis Kerkam, New York, District of Columbia / France (1890-1965), female portrait, oil on canvas, 14"H x 9"W (sight), 20 3/4"H x 16"W (frame)
Est: $200 - $300
Earl Cavis Kerkam New York, District of Columbia / France, (1890-1965) female portrait oil on canvas Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: Earl Kerkam abandoned a well-paid career as a commercial artist to study painting. He studied at the Rand School, the Art Student's League, and the School of Design, before moving to France to continue his studies. In Paris, he attended the Academies de la Grand Chaumiere and the Academy Colorossi from 1924 to 1929. He was in charge of the American Art Gallery in Paris for a brief period. He exhibited some of his paintings along with Andre Derrain, a member of Henri Matisse's circle, Les Fauves. After the Great Depression began, he returned to America. In the early 1930s he was the art editor for "Progress" magazine. From 1933 to 1943 he was employed with the Easel Project of the Works Progress Administration, where he worked with Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, among others. During World War II, he created posters for the New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. The posters were designed to promote wartime conservation of natural resources. In the late 1940s, Kerkam became involved with The Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, an organization devoted to making the public and the press more aware of the importance and diversity of non-academic art. The Federation developed what was, at the time, a unique method of encouraging museums to include contemporary works of art in their collections. The Federation would find donors to purchase the works, and then approach museums to accept them. As a result, museums across the country began accepting contemporary art. Although he never experienced much fame with the general public, Kerkam garnered the respect of other artists because of his devotion to painting. He worked mostly in still life and figures, particularly in self-portraits, in part because he could seldom afford to hire models. He was very cognizant of the traditions of modern painting, so he returned consistently to the paintings of Paul Cezanne and the cubists for inspiration. However, Kerkam's paintings remained too tied to tradition, both with regard to subject matter and form, to ever be included among any of the abstract expressionists. As a result, he is rarely mentioned in discussions of the period. His paintings were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Mellon Galleries. He taught briefly at the New York Studio School before his death in 1965. Submitted February 2005 by Gene C. Gerard, teacher of American history at Tarrant County College in suburban Dallas. He wrote: "I am working on a book that looks at the homefront contributions of various Americans during World War I and II. One of the individuals I've researched is the painter Earl Kerkam. As such, I have written this biography". My sources for the biography are as follows: * "The Most Difficult Journey," by Beth Harris, Exhibits USA, for The Poindexter Collections of American Modernist Painting Programming Guide * "1934 - 1942: An Important Time in the Development of American Graphic Design," an M.A. Thesis by Erin K. Malone, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994 * "The School - Its History," the New York Studio School * "The Federation in Retrospect" by Dora Ashton, http://www.fedart.org
Ripley Auctions
Mar. 17, 2024
Earl Cavis Kerkam Nude Woman Acrylic
Est: $600 - $800
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1891-1965), Nude Woman on Pink Ground, Acrylic on Board, 1952, pencil signed, inscribed "Paris", and dated upper right, giltwood frame. Image: 17.5" H x 13.5" W; frame: 29" H x 24.5" W. Keywords: Paintings, Figural, Nude female figure, Mid-Century Modern, MCM, Works on paper, Abstract Expressionist, New York Figurative Expressionism
Auctions at Showplace
Oct. 20, 2023
Earl Kerkam
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
(New York/District Of Columbia/France, 1891-1965) Self Portrait, 1958, not apparently signed, oil on board, 14 x 12-1/2 in.; fine gilt wood frame, possibly by Robert Kulicke, artist and frame maker, 27-3/8 x 22-7/8 x 1 in. Provenance: James Goodman Gallery, Inc., New York, New York (labels reattached verso); John Raimondi Gallery, Florida (labels attached verso); Private Collection
Brunk Auctions
Oct. 11, 2023
Earl Kerkam
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
American, 1891-1965 Untitled, circa 1960 Initialed EK (lr) Oil on canvasboard 24 x 20 in. (61 x 50.8 cm) Provenance Sale, Doyle, New York, Apr. 17, 2012, lot 46 Private collection, NJ (Framed dimensions: 31 x 26 1/2 x 1 inches) Frame rubbing. Some scattered flecks of brown material (possibly old backing paper) along upper center, with a corresponding horizontal scuff. A small spot of loss at center left in blue pigment. No signs of restoration under UV inspection.
DOYLE Auctioneers & Appraisers
Sep. 12, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam
Est: $800 - $1,200
Earl Cavis Kerkam American, 1891-1965 Portrait of a Young Girl Signed Kerkam (lr) Oil on canvasboard 13 1/8 x 9 inches (33.3 x 22.9 cm) Provenance: Weschler's Auctioneers & Appraisers, Dec. 1, 2007, lot 673 Private collection, New Jersey (Framed dimensions: 16 3/8 x 12 1/4 x 1 1/8 inches) Frame rubbing with scattered edge wear and small losses to upper left, lower left and lower right corners. A few thin lines of paint separation at center left. No evidence of restoration under UV inspection.
DOYLE Auctioneers & Appraisers
Sep. 12, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
Earl Cavis Kerkam American 1891-1965 Torso, 1955 Signed and dated KERKAM/55 (lr) Oil on Masonite 32 1/2 x 19 1/2 inches (82.5 x 49.5 cm) Provenance: Margaret Brown Gallery, Boston Doyle, New York, Oct. 10, 2007, lot 4046 Private collection, New Jersey (Frame dimensions: 38 x 25 1/8 inches) Could use a light cleaning; 1 cm hairline scratch at lower left corner; a tiny piece of paper (?) is adhered to the surface at upper left center; no apparent restoration.
DOYLE Auctioneers & Appraisers
Jul. 01, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam, New York, District of Columbia / France (1890-1965), portrait, 1945, oil on board, 13"H x 9 3/4"W (sight), 20"H x 17"W (frame)
Est: $400 - $600
Earl Cavis Kerkam New York, District of Columbia / France, (1890-1965) portrait, 1945 oil on board Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: Earl Kerkam abandoned a well-paid career as a commercial artist to study painting. He studied at the Rand School, the Art Student's League, and the School of Design, before moving to France to continue his studies. In Paris, he attended the Academies de la Grand Chaumiere and the Academy Colorossi from 1924 to 1929. He was in charge of the American Art Gallery in Paris for a brief period. He exhibited some of his paintings along with Andre Derrain, a member of Henri Matisse's circle, Les Fauves. After the Great Depression began, he returned to America. In the early 1930s he was the art editor for "Progress" magazine. From 1933 to 1943 he was employed with the Easel Project of the Works Progress Administration, where he worked with Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, among others. During World War II, he created posters for the New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. The posters were designed to promote wartime conservation of natural resources. In the late 1940s, Kerkam became involved with The Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, an organization devoted to making the public and the press more aware of the importance and diversity of non-academic art. The Federation developed what was, at the time, a unique method of encouraging museums to include contemporary works of art in their collections. The Federation would find donors to purchase the works, and then approach museums to accept them. As a result, museums across the country began accepting contemporary art. Although he never experienced much fame with the general public, Kerkam garnered the respect of other artists because of his devotion to painting. He worked mostly in still life and figures, particularly in self-portraits, in part because he could seldom afford to hire models. He was very cognizant of the traditions of modern painting, so he returned consistently to the paintings of Paul Cezanne and the cubists for inspiration. However, Kerkam's paintings remained too tied to tradition, both with regard to subject matter and form, to ever be included among any of the abstract expressionists. As a result, he is rarely mentioned in discussions of the period. His paintings were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Mellon Galleries. He taught briefly at the New York Studio School before his death in 1965. Submitted February 2005 by Gene C. Gerard, teacher of American history at Tarrant County College in suburban Dallas. He wrote: "I am working on a book that looks at the homefront contributions of various Americans during World War I and II. One of the individuals I've researched is the painter Earl Kerkam. As such, I have written this biography". My sources for the biography are as follows: * "The Most Difficult Journey," by Beth Harris, Exhibits USA, for The Poindexter Collections of American Modernist Painting Programming Guide * "1934 - 1942: An Important Time in the Development of American Graphic Design," an M.A. Thesis by Erin K. Malone, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994 * "The School - Its History," the New York Studio School * "The Federation in Retrospect" by Dora Ashton, http://www.fedart.org
Ripley Auctions
Jul. 01, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam, New York, District of Columbia / France (1890-1965), portrait, oil on canvas, 14"H x 9 1/4"W (sight), 21"H x 16 1/4"W (frame)
Est: $400 - $600
Earl Cavis Kerkam New York, District of Columbia / France, (1890-1965) portrait oil on canvas Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: Earl Kerkam abandoned a well-paid career as a commercial artist to study painting. He studied at the Rand School, the Art Student's League, and the School of Design, before moving to France to continue his studies. In Paris, he attended the Academies de la Grand Chaumiere and the Academy Colorossi from 1924 to 1929. He was in charge of the American Art Gallery in Paris for a brief period. He exhibited some of his paintings along with Andre Derrain, a member of Henri Matisse's circle, Les Fauves. After the Great Depression began, he returned to America. In the early 1930s he was the art editor for "Progress" magazine. From 1933 to 1943 he was employed with the Easel Project of the Works Progress Administration, where he worked with Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, among others. During World War II, he created posters for the New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. The posters were designed to promote wartime conservation of natural resources. In the late 1940s, Kerkam became involved with The Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, an organization devoted to making the public and the press more aware of the importance and diversity of non-academic art. The Federation developed what was, at the time, a unique method of encouraging museums to include contemporary works of art in their collections. The Federation would find donors to purchase the works, and then approach museums to accept them. As a result, museums across the country began accepting contemporary art. Although he never experienced much fame with the general public, Kerkam garnered the respect of other artists because of his devotion to painting. He worked mostly in still life and figures, particularly in self-portraits, in part because he could seldom afford to hire models. He was very cognizant of the traditions of modern painting, so he returned consistently to the paintings of Paul Cezanne and the cubists for inspiration. However, Kerkam's paintings remained too tied to tradition, both with regard to subject matter and form, to ever be included among any of the abstract expressionists. As a result, he is rarely mentioned in discussions of the period. His paintings were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Mellon Galleries. He taught briefly at the New York Studio School before his death in 1965. Submitted February 2005 by Gene C. Gerard, teacher of American history at Tarrant County College in suburban Dallas. He wrote: "I am working on a book that looks at the homefront contributions of various Americans during World War I and II. One of the individuals I've researched is the painter Earl Kerkam. As such, I have written this biography". My sources for the biography are as follows: * "The Most Difficult Journey," by Beth Harris, Exhibits USA, for The Poindexter Collections of American Modernist Painting Programming Guide * "1934 - 1942: An Important Time in the Development of American Graphic Design," an M.A. Thesis by Erin K. Malone, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994 * "The School - Its History," the New York Studio School * "The Federation in Retrospect" by Dora Ashton, http://www.fedart.org
Ripley Auctions
Jul. 01, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam, New York, District of Columbia / France (1890-1965), female portrait, oil on board, 15 1/4"H x 12"W (sight), 22 1/8"H x 18 3/4"W (frame)
Est: $400 - $600
Earl Cavis Kerkam New York, District of Columbia / France, (1890-1965) female portrait oil on board Signed lower right and verso. Biography from the Archives of askART: Earl Kerkam abandoned a well-paid career as a commercial artist to study painting. He studied at the Rand School, the Art Student's League, and the School of Design, before moving to France to continue his studies. In Paris, he attended the Academies de la Grand Chaumiere and the Academy Colorossi from 1924 to 1929. He was in charge of the American Art Gallery in Paris for a brief period. He exhibited some of his paintings along with Andre Derrain, a member of Henri Matisse's circle, Les Fauves. After the Great Depression began, he returned to America. In the early 1930s he was the art editor for "Progress" magazine. From 1933 to 1943 he was employed with the Easel Project of the Works Progress Administration, where he worked with Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, among others. During World War II, he created posters for the New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. The posters were designed to promote wartime conservation of natural resources. In the late 1940s, Kerkam became involved with The Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, an organization devoted to making the public and the press more aware of the importance and diversity of non-academic art. The Federation developed what was, at the time, a unique method of encouraging museums to include contemporary works of art in their collections. The Federation would find donors to purchase the works, and then approach museums to accept them. As a result, museums across the country began accepting contemporary art. Although he never experienced much fame with the general public, Kerkam garnered the respect of other artists because of his devotion to painting. He worked mostly in still life and figures, particularly in self-portraits, in part because he could seldom afford to hire models. He was very cognizant of the traditions of modern painting, so he returned consistently to the paintings of Paul Cezanne and the cubists for inspiration. However, Kerkam's paintings remained too tied to tradition, both with regard to subject matter and form, to ever be included among any of the abstract expressionists. As a result, he is rarely mentioned in discussions of the period. His paintings were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Mellon Galleries. He taught briefly at the New York Studio School before his death in 1965. Submitted February 2005 by Gene C. Gerard, teacher of American history at Tarrant County College in suburban Dallas. He wrote: "I am working on a book that looks at the homefront contributions of various Americans during World War I and II. One of the individuals I've researched is the painter Earl Kerkam. As such, I have written this biography". My sources for the biography are as follows: * "The Most Difficult Journey," by Beth Harris, Exhibits USA, for The Poindexter Collections of American Modernist Painting Programming Guide * "1934 - 1942: An Important Time in the Development of American Graphic Design," an M.A. Thesis by Erin K. Malone, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994 * "The School - Its History," the New York Studio School * "The Federation in Retrospect" by Dora Ashton, http://www.fedart.org
Ripley Auctions
Apr. 29, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam, New York, District of Columbia / France (1890-1965), portrait, oil on canvas, 14"H x 9 1/4"W (sight), 21"H x 16 1/4"W (frame)
Est: $700 - $900
Earl Cavis Kerkam New York, District of Columbia / France, (1890-1965) portrait oil on canvas Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: Earl Kerkam abandoned a well-paid career as a commercial artist to study painting. He studied at the Rand School, the Art Student's League, and the School of Design, before moving to France to continue his studies. In Paris, he attended the Academies de la Grand Chaumiere and the Academy Colorossi from 1924 to 1929. He was in charge of the American Art Gallery in Paris for a brief period. He exhibited some of his paintings along with Andre Derrain, a member of Henri Matisse's circle, Les Fauves. After the Great Depression began, he returned to America. In the early 1930s he was the art editor for "Progress" magazine. From 1933 to 1943 he was employed with the Easel Project of the Works Progress Administration, where he worked with Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, among others. During World War II, he created posters for the New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. The posters were designed to promote wartime conservation of natural resources. In the late 1940s, Kerkam became involved with The Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, an organization devoted to making the public and the press more aware of the importance and diversity of non-academic art. The Federation developed what was, at the time, a unique method of encouraging museums to include contemporary works of art in their collections. The Federation would find donors to purchase the works, and then approach museums to accept them. As a result, museums across the country began accepting contemporary art. Although he never experienced much fame with the general public, Kerkam garnered the respect of other artists because of his devotion to painting. He worked mostly in still life and figures, particularly in self-portraits, in part because he could seldom afford to hire models. He was very cognizant of the traditions of modern painting, so he returned consistently to the paintings of Paul Cezanne and the cubists for inspiration. However, Kerkam's paintings remained too tied to tradition, both with regard to subject matter and form, to ever be included among any of the abstract expressionists. As a result, he is rarely mentioned in discussions of the period. His paintings were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Mellon Galleries. He taught briefly at the New York Studio School before his death in 1965. Submitted February 2005 by Gene C. Gerard, teacher of American history at Tarrant County College in suburban Dallas. He wrote: "I am working on a book that looks at the homefront contributions of various Americans during World War I and II. One of the individuals I've researched is the painter Earl Kerkam. As such, I have written this biography". My sources for the biography are as follows: * "The Most Difficult Journey," by Beth Harris, Exhibits USA, for The Poindexter Collections of American Modernist Painting Programming Guide * "1934 - 1942: An Important Time in the Development of American Graphic Design," an M.A. Thesis by Erin K. Malone, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994 * "The School - Its History," the New York Studio School * "The Federation in Retrospect" by Dora Ashton, http://www.fedart.org
Ripley Auctions
Apr. 29, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam, New York, District of Columbia / France (1890-1965), portrait, 1945, oil on board, 13"H x 9 3/4"W (sight), 20"H x 17"W (frame)
Est: $700 - $900
Earl Cavis Kerkam New York, District of Columbia / France, (1890-1965) portrait, 1945 oil on board Signed lower right. Biography from the Archives of askART: Earl Kerkam abandoned a well-paid career as a commercial artist to study painting. He studied at the Rand School, the Art Student's League, and the School of Design, before moving to France to continue his studies. In Paris, he attended the Academies de la Grand Chaumiere and the Academy Colorossi from 1924 to 1929. He was in charge of the American Art Gallery in Paris for a brief period. He exhibited some of his paintings along with Andre Derrain, a member of Henri Matisse's circle, Les Fauves. After the Great Depression began, he returned to America. In the early 1930s he was the art editor for "Progress" magazine. From 1933 to 1943 he was employed with the Easel Project of the Works Progress Administration, where he worked with Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, among others. During World War II, he created posters for the New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. The posters were designed to promote wartime conservation of natural resources. In the late 1940s, Kerkam became involved with The Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, an organization devoted to making the public and the press more aware of the importance and diversity of non-academic art. The Federation developed what was, at the time, a unique method of encouraging museums to include contemporary works of art in their collections. The Federation would find donors to purchase the works, and then approach museums to accept them. As a result, museums across the country began accepting contemporary art. Although he never experienced much fame with the general public, Kerkam garnered the respect of other artists because of his devotion to painting. He worked mostly in still life and figures, particularly in self-portraits, in part because he could seldom afford to hire models. He was very cognizant of the traditions of modern painting, so he returned consistently to the paintings of Paul Cezanne and the cubists for inspiration. However, Kerkam's paintings remained too tied to tradition, both with regard to subject matter and form, to ever be included among any of the abstract expressionists. As a result, he is rarely mentioned in discussions of the period. His paintings were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Mellon Galleries. He taught briefly at the New York Studio School before his death in 1965. Submitted February 2005 by Gene C. Gerard, teacher of American history at Tarrant County College in suburban Dallas. He wrote: "I am working on a book that looks at the homefront contributions of various Americans during World War I and II. One of the individuals I've researched is the painter Earl Kerkam. As such, I have written this biography". My sources for the biography are as follows: * "The Most Difficult Journey," by Beth Harris, Exhibits USA, for The Poindexter Collections of American Modernist Painting Programming Guide * "1934 - 1942: An Important Time in the Development of American Graphic Design," an M.A. Thesis by Erin K. Malone, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994 * "The School - Its History," the New York Studio School * "The Federation in Retrospect" by Dora Ashton, http://www.fedart.org
Ripley Auctions
Apr. 29, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam, New York, District of Columbia / France (1890-1965), female portrait, oil on board, 15 1/4"H x 12"W (sight), 22 1/8"H x 18 3/4"W (frame)
Est: $700 - $900
Earl Cavis Kerkam New York, District of Columbia / France, (1890-1965) female portrait oil on board Signed lower right and verso. Biography from the Archives of askART: Earl Kerkam abandoned a well-paid career as a commercial artist to study painting. He studied at the Rand School, the Art Student's League, and the School of Design, before moving to France to continue his studies. In Paris, he attended the Academies de la Grand Chaumiere and the Academy Colorossi from 1924 to 1929. He was in charge of the American Art Gallery in Paris for a brief period. He exhibited some of his paintings along with Andre Derrain, a member of Henri Matisse's circle, Les Fauves. After the Great Depression began, he returned to America. In the early 1930s he was the art editor for "Progress" magazine. From 1933 to 1943 he was employed with the Easel Project of the Works Progress Administration, where he worked with Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock, among others. During World War II, he created posters for the New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity. The posters were designed to promote wartime conservation of natural resources. In the late 1940s, Kerkam became involved with The Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, an organization devoted to making the public and the press more aware of the importance and diversity of non-academic art. The Federation developed what was, at the time, a unique method of encouraging museums to include contemporary works of art in their collections. The Federation would find donors to purchase the works, and then approach museums to accept them. As a result, museums across the country began accepting contemporary art. Although he never experienced much fame with the general public, Kerkam garnered the respect of other artists because of his devotion to painting. He worked mostly in still life and figures, particularly in self-portraits, in part because he could seldom afford to hire models. He was very cognizant of the traditions of modern painting, so he returned consistently to the paintings of Paul Cezanne and the cubists for inspiration. However, Kerkam's paintings remained too tied to tradition, both with regard to subject matter and form, to ever be included among any of the abstract expressionists. As a result, he is rarely mentioned in discussions of the period. His paintings were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Mellon Galleries. He taught briefly at the New York Studio School before his death in 1965. Submitted February 2005 by Gene C. Gerard, teacher of American history at Tarrant County College in suburban Dallas. He wrote: "I am working on a book that looks at the homefront contributions of various Americans during World War I and II. One of the individuals I've researched is the painter Earl Kerkam. As such, I have written this biography". My sources for the biography are as follows: * "The Most Difficult Journey," by Beth Harris, Exhibits USA, for The Poindexter Collections of American Modernist Painting Programming Guide * "1934 - 1942: An Important Time in the Development of American Graphic Design," an M.A. Thesis by Erin K. Malone, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1994 * "The School - Its History," the New York Studio School * "The Federation in Retrospect" by Dora Ashton, http://www.fedart.org
Ripley Auctions
Feb. 28, 2023
Earl Kerkam, (1891-1965), Still life with a vase and fruit, Oil on board, 12" H x 17.25" W
Est: $300 - $500
Earl Kerkam (1891-1965) Still life with a vase and fruit Oil on board Signed lower left: Kerkam
John Moran Auctioneers
Feb. 09, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Watercolor on paper 17-1/2 x 14
Est: $500 - $700
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Watercolor on paper 17-1/2 x 14-1/2 inches (44.5 x 36.8 cm) (sheet) Signed upper right: Kerkam HID01801242017
Heritage Auctions
Feb. 09, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Nude Watercolor on paper 9 x 11-5/8 inch
Est: $500 - $700
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Nude Watercolor on paper 9 x 11-5/8 inches (22.9 x 29.5 cm) (sheet) Signed upper right: Kerkam Property from a Distinguished New York Estate HID01801242017
Heritage Auctions
Feb. 09, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Ink and pastel on paper 13-3/4
Est: $500 - $700
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Ink and pastel on paper 13-3/4 x 11-1/4 inches (34.9 x 28.6 cm) (sheet) Signed lower left: Kerkam Property from a Distinguished New York Estate HID01801242017
Heritage Auctions
Feb. 09, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Seated Figure Watercolor on paper 18 x 1
Est: $500 - $700
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Seated Figure Watercolor on paper 18 x 14-1/4 inches (45.7 x 36.2 cm) (sheet) Signed lower right: Kerkam Property from a Distinguished New York Estate HID01801242017
Heritage Auctions
Feb. 09, 2023
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Ink on paper 12-7/8 x 10 inches
Est: $500 - $700
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Ink on paper 12-7/8 x 10 inches (32.7 x 25.4 cm) (sheet) Signed lower right: Kerham HID01801242017
Heritage Auctions
Dec. 15, 2022
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Ink on paper 12-7/8 x 10 inches
Est: $600 - $800
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Ink on paper 12-7/8 x 10 inches (32.7 x 25.4 cm) (sheet) Signed lower right: Kerham HID01801242017
Heritage Auctions
Dec. 15, 2022
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Ink and pastel on paper 13-3/4
Est: $600 - $800
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Ink and pastel on paper 13-3/4 x 11-1/4 inches (34.9 x 28.6 cm) (sheet) Signed lower left: Kerkam Property from a Distinguished New York Estate HID01801242017
Heritage Auctions
Dec. 15, 2022
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Watercolor on paper 17-1/2 x 14
Est: $600 - $800
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Portrait Watercolor on paper 17-1/2 x 14-1/2 inches (44.5 x 36.8 cm) (sheet) Signed upper right: Kerkam HID01801242017
Heritage Auctions
Dec. 15, 2022
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Seated Figure Watercolor on paper 18 x 1
Est: $600 - $800
Earl Cavis Kerkam (American, 1890-1965) Seated Figure Watercolor on paper 18 x 14-1/4 inches (45.7 x 36.2 cm) (sheet) Signed lower right: Kerkam Property from a Distinguished New York Estate HID01801242017
Heritage Auctions