The work of outsider artist Gayleen Aiken on display January 11 to March 18, with an opening on February 4, from 4 pm to 7 pm, in association with Montpelier Alive Art Walk.
Gayleen Aiken was born 1934 in Barre Vermont and died in 2005. She began painting as a child and never stopped. Her major themes include the old farmhouse where she grew up, the granite industry, and musical instruments. She called these her “hobbies”. Gayleen united these diverse interests in her artwork by means of a large (24), imaginary family of cousins, the Raimbillis.
Gayleen’s work has been exhibited in major exhibitions of Outsider Art and American Folk Art in both the United States and Europe. She is represented in numerous permanent collections: the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum of American Folk Art, Smithsonian Museum, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Museum. Gayleen has participated in many exhibits among them: Lincoln Center Gallery, American Visionary Museum, Vermont Granite Museum, Henry Sheldon Museum, and the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. She was subject of Jay Craven’s award winning film “Gayleen” and the recipient of a Vermont Council on the Arts Fellowship which produced “Moonlight and Music: the Enchanted World of Gayleen Aiken” published by Harry Abrams.
Gayleen Aiken was born 1934 in Barre Vermont and died in 2005. She began painting as a child and never stopped. Her major themes include the old farmhouse where she grew up, the granite industry, and musical instruments. She called these her “hobbies”. Gayleen united these diverse interests in her artwork by means of a large (24), imaginary family of cousins, the Raimbillis.
Gayleen’s work has been exhibited in major exhibitions of Outsider Art and American Folk Art in both the United States and Europe. She is represented in numerous permanent collections: the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum of American Folk Art, Smithsonian Museum, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Museum. Gayleen has participated in many exhibits among them: Lincoln Center Gallery, American Visionary Museum, Vermont Granite Museum, Henry Sheldon Museum, and the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. She was subject of Jay Craven’s award winning film “Gayleen” and the recipient of a Vermont Council on the Arts Fellowship which produced “Moonlight and Music: the Enchanted World of Gayleen Aiken” published by Harry Abrams.
My Raimbilli Hill Cousins and Music, Oil on canvas, 1982
Cousin Gawleen At The Organ, Mixed media on paper, 1983
The work in our Contemporary Hall in December 2021 was donated for our 2nd annual Youth Scholarship Fundraiser. All proceeds directly benefit our youth education program by generating our annual youth scholarship fund and some new supply purchases.
Last year, we were proud to award over $8,000 in scholarships to youth so they can attend our summer camps and after school art program! We are committed to making it possible for everyone to attend regardless of ability to pay, and we are grateful to you, our Vermont community businesses, for helping us raise the money to make that happen!
Auction UPDATE: We made over $5000, surpassing our goal!
Thank you for supporting our youth scholarship fund!
Return of The Herd II After Bruegel By Glen Coburn Hutcheson
Bird By Mimi Dutcher Fowler
