SANTA CRUZ, CA.- The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History has opened Richard Mayhew: Inner Terrain, a rare and timely exhibition of the artwork of Richard Mayhew (b. 1924), featuring works that speak to American arts, culture, and history. The exhibition is on view at the MAH since February 1 and will continue through to May 12, 2024.

Mayhew, who lives in Soquel, California, works from inside the painting. His unique practice blends multiple genres in the history of art including Baroque landscape, Impressionism, plein-air, Abstract Expressionism, and Color Field painting using mechanisms from each. He calls his landscapes “moodscapes” as an introspective excavation of the terrain of his mind. Mayhew’s use of color is intuitive and is alive with emotion. When his work is viewed from a distance, fields of color become fields of space and resolve as landscape.

Mayhew’s African American and Native American ancestries inform his dreamlike scenes, which are saturated in vibrant colors, including shades of red and burnt earth pigments that suggest evidence of, as he puts it, “blood in the soil.” His father was African American and Shinnecock; his mother, African American and Cherokee-Lumbee. His emotional and spiritual connection to the natural world was nurtured by his paternal grandmother, who supported his art endeavors and schooled him in Native American traditions.

The exhibition is guest curated by Shelby Graham and Kajahl and includes works from the holdings of other museums and private collections, including that of the artist.

“As my longtime mentor, Richard Mayhew’s influence on me has been profound. Mr. Mayhew’s unwavering dedication to staying true to his artistic calling of creative internalized expression while not conforming to external pressure is truly inspiring,” said co-curator Kajahl.

As Richard Mayhew approaches his centennial birthday in April 2024, he remains an active painter developing an inventive mind and continuing to improvise his techniques. His work opens a dialogue for larger conversations about personal narrative, an innovative use of color, spirituality, and a lifetime of creative mindset.

“This immersive exhibition at MAH spans six decades of paintings and prints from local institutions and private collections,” said co-curator Shelby Graham. “As the last surviving member of the infamous Spiral think tank from New York during the 1960s, Richard Mayhew is a treasure for our community to celebrate as he turns 100 years old. It’s important to see his work in Santa Cruz at this time.”

Richard Mayhew: Inner Terrain was organized and first presented by Sonoma Valley Museum Valley Museum of Art. The exhibition at the MAH is presented with support from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County and Santa Cruz County Bank.

RICHARD MAYHEW

Richard Mayhew is a highly acclaimed artist whose work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States. Born in Amityville, New York, in 1924, Mayhew went on to study at the Art Students League, Columbia University, and the Brooklyn Museum Art School. Mayhew's paintings are known for their rich, vibrant colors and their ability to capture the beauty and essence of the natural world. He is particularly known for his depictions of the American landscape, which often incorporate elements of the abstract and the surreal. Mayhew's work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including shows at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Studio Museum in Harlem. He has also been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.