Object Details
Artist
Albina Felski, born Fernie, British Columbia, Canada 1916-died 1996
Luce Center Label
Albina Felski often took almost a year to complete one painting, carefully working from the top to the bottom of a large canvas without making any sketches. This painting shows a chaotic eight-ring circus with almost every imaginable act taking place simultaneously, from dancing bears and trapeze artists to an animal tamer in a cage full of leopards. Felski was probably inspired by a childhood trip to the circus, and managed to cram all of her colorful, jumbled memories into one painting.
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson
Date
1971
Object number
1986.65.108
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Painting
Folk Art
Medium
acrylic on canvas
Dimensions
48 x 48 1/4 in. (122.0 x 122.4 cm.)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
On View
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 23B
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Animal\lion
Performing arts\circus\animal tamer
Performing arts\circus\acrobat
Recreation\carnival
Performing arts\circus\clown
Animal\zebra
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_1986.65.108