Frederic C. Kaplan


Frederic C. Kaplan during his exhibition at Cerulean Arts

Observations: America Tomorrow? (In the Manner Of) 
This show is a departure for me. For many years, my art avoided uncomfortable topics, alluding to them only subtly, if at all, with abstract symbolism and vague metaphor. But recent events in America, as well as in the larger world, compelled me to meet those events head-on with my art. Indeed, these new artworks not only confront the rising tensions and discord directly, some pieces do so with extreme bluntness, even crudeness.

My new work began as a reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs Decision in 2022. Dobbs overturned the Court’s own 1973 Roe vs. Wade Decision, upending long settled law that guaranteed the right of abortion. Like many, I was incensed by the decision. And, like many, I was concerned by the direction I observed the court and nation taking. I wondered what would be America Tomorrow?

I began sketching out concepts for artworks in response to this question. The first painting to come out of this effort was Hammer of Justice? 

While working on Hammer, I stumbled across a reproduction of a painting by Paul Gauguin titled Yellow Christ. Yellow Christ inspired my Yellow Chirstina. Yellow Christina portrays a pregnant woman nailed to a cross, referencing the formidable influence of extremist religious beliefs on the current Court and on Dobbs.

Because of the religious overtones, I decided that Yellow Christina should be developed as part of a triptych, a common format for much Christian religious art. I also made the decision that, since Yellow Christina melds the imagery and style of Gauguin with my own physics-influenced approach, the two side panels of the triptych would also derive their imagery from the work of other significant artists. The outcome was a panel that incorporates the characters created by Charles Schulz (Good Grief!), and another panel that draws on the uncomplicated figures designed by Keith Haring (Pride in America). Together, the three panels of the triptych became Judgments.

Imitating the work of other artists allowed for a range of styles and methods beyond my customary approach. This resulted in a stylistically eclectic body of work. It also provided the freedom to use unusual materials and create imagery atypical for me. Serendipitously, this tied in well with a secondary theme for this new series of artworks, which acknowledges the many varied kinds of people, cultures, and ways of thinking that are America. Hence, the show’s subtitle: In the Manner Of.

Frederic C. Kaplan Resume 
Cerulean Arts Collective Virtual Tour & Talk - April 26, 2023  
Virtual Tour & Talk, October 23, 2024

Frederic C. Kaplan's most recent solo exhibition was on view October 16 - November 10, 2024.  For inquiries on work shown, please Contact Us.

Believe It or Not, acrylic and watercolor on Lanaquarelle paper painting by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Believe It or Not, acrylic & watercolor on paper, 22" x 30"  

Caged I, graphite on paper drawing by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Caged I, graphite on paper, 4.75" x 6.5"  SOLD 

Caged II, graphite on paper drawing by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Caged II, ballpoint pen on paper, 4.75" x 6.5" 

Caged III, graphite on paper drawing by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Caged III, ballpoint pen on paper, 4.75" x 6.5" 

Christ Was a Jew I, charcoal on paper drawing by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Christ was a Jew I, charcoal on paper, 11.75" x 18"   

Christ Was a Jew II, charcoal on paper drawing by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Christ was a Jew II, charcoal on paper, 15.5" x 11.5" 

Cooked or Cracked: A Choice, oil on paper with egg shells mixed media artwork by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Cooked or Cracked: A Choice, mixed media, 20.5" x 20.5"  

Good Grief!, oil on wood painting by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Good Grief!, oil on panel, acrylic on wood, 10" x 10"  

Hammer of Justice?, acrylic on canvas painting by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Hammer of Justice?, acrylic on canvas, 18" x 18" 

Judgements, oil on linen painting (triptych) by Cerulean Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Judgements, oil on linen, 36" x 66" (triptych)  

Living Together, acrylic on canvas painting by Cerulean Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Living Together, acrylic on canvas, 18" x 18"  SOLD 

Planning ... Down the Drain, charcoal and conté crayon on paper drawing with contraceptives by Cerulean Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Planning .. Down the Drain, mixed media, 20.5" x 20.5"  

Pride In America, acrylic on wood painting by Cerulean Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Pride in America, acrylic on wood, 10" x 10"  

Pussy Grabber .. wants to live here, oil on linen painting by Cerulean Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Pussy Grabber .. wants to live here, oil on linen, 24" x 20" 

"Tools" of the Trade .. Again, acrylic on canvas painting by Cerulean Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan.
"Tools" of the Trade .. Again, acrylic on canvas, 18" x 18"  

Verboten I, graphite on paper drawing by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Verboten I, graphite on paper, 4.75" x 6.5" 

Verboten III, graphite on paper drawing by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan.
Verboten II, ballpoint pen on paper, 4.75" x 6.5" 

Verboten III, ballpoint pen on paper drawing by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Verboten III, ballpoint pen on paper, 4.75" x 6.5" 

Yellow Christina, acrylic on wood painting by Cerulean Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Yellow Christina, acrylic on wood, 12" x 12"  

Christ was a Jew, oil on Arches paper painting by Cerulean Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan.
Christ was a Jew, oil on paper, 18" x 12" 

Supreme F*** You, graphite, ink, acrylic, watercolor, conté crayon and pastel on paper drawing by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Supreme F*** You, mixed media drawing, 11.75" x 11.75"  


Frederic C. Kaplan's previous solo exhibition was held April 12 - May 7, 2023.  A selection of his works is currently available at the gallery as indicated below.  For inquiries on all other work shown, please Contact Us

Sanctuary in Green, acrylic on canvas painting by Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Sanctuary in Green, acrylic on canvas, 20" x 22"  Available 

Singing to the Cosmos, oil on canvas painting by Cerulean Collective Member Frederic C. Kaplan
Singing to the Cosmos, oil on canvas, 26" x 44"  Available 


Electron Exchange, oil on canvas, 18" x 48"  Available 


Singing to the Cosmos
, oil on canvas, 26" x 44"  Available 


The Stuff We Are Made Of, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"  Available 


Seeds of Time, acrylic & graphite on panel, 12" x 12"  Available 


Sanctuary in Green, acrylic on canvas, 20" x 22"  Available 


Home Seekers
, acrylic, gouache & graphite on watercolor paper, 14" x 20"  Available 


Gravity Lens
, acrylic, gouache & graphite on watercolor paper, 14" x 20"  Available 


Venus, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"  Available 


Gravity Plus, acrylic on panel, 12" x 12"  Available 


Pluto, acrylic, ink on canvas, 18" x 18"  Available 


Despina, acrylic, ink on panel, 12" x 12" Available


Saturn, acrylic, ink on canvas, 32" x 32"  Available 


Luna, acrylic, ink on panel, 14" x 14"  Available 


Fecundity I, oil on canvas, 11" x 14"  Available  


How Is It Possible? (Lost Moments)
, oil on canvas, 24" x 36"  


Temporal Geometry Z
, oil on paper with watch and nylon thread, 28" x 21"  


Playing Dice with the Universe
, oil on museum board, 18" x 12"  


Yesterday
, acrylic on watercolor paper, 11.5" x 15.5"  


Finding Her Way
, acrylic & gouache on watercolor paper, 14" x 20"  


Gestation
, acrylic, gouache & graphite on watercolor paper, 15.75" x 12"  


Interlopers
, acrylic, gouache & graphite on watercolor paper, 13" x 10.25"   


Passionate Eruption
, acrylic & gouache on watercolor paper, 10.5" x 13.5"  


Above and Below, oil & charcoal on linen, 36" x 48"  


A Curious Place, oil on canvas, 32" x 48" 


Black Holes are Not Bald, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24" 


Neptune: God of the Sea, acrylic & ink on canvas, 32" x 32"  


Redshifted Waltz, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"  


Uranus: God of the Heavens, acrylic & ink on canvas, 32" x 32"  


Yes, It Rains in the Cosmos, acrylic on panel, 12" x 12"  SOLD 


Earth, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"  


Mars, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24" 


Jupiter, acrylic, ink on canvas, 32" x 32"  

Godel, Escher, Bach at Relativistic Velocity, oil, acrylic, ink on canvas, 32" x 72"  SOLD
  

Mercury, acrylic on canvas painting, 24" x 24"  
 

Awakening, oil on canvas, 24" x 44"  SOLD  


Dusty Morn, acrylic on canvas, 11" x 14"  


Nightfall, acrylic on canvas, 11" x 14"  SOLD  


Entropic Landscape, oil on canvas, 18" x 48"  SOLD  


Fecundity II, oil on canvas, 11" x 14"  SOLD