In the Company of Artists : A History of Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture

In the Company of Artists is the first major study of Skowhegan’s history, philosophy and impact. By uncovering narratives on Skowhegan and providing an institutional record, the project expands our understanding of American art production and alternative art schools in the post–World War II era. In the Company of Artists draws from primary source material, including: new and unpublished interviews and roundtable discussions with faculty and alumni artists; photographs and film stills; ephemera; and artworks produced over 70+ years. Through firsthand accounts from artists, staff and arts patrons, the book is a window into this intensely private institution that was ahead of its time with respect to re-presentation, equity and inclusion.

A first glimpse into a celebrated art school that explores its artistic contributions and history.

In the Company of Artists is the first major study of the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, founded in 1946. It explores the institution''s history, philosophy, and impact, by uncovering narratives on Skowhegan and providing an institutional record. Drawing from primary source material, including new and unpublished interviews and roundtable discussions with faculty and alumni artists, photographs and film stills, ephemera, and artworks produced over seventy years, it expands our understanding of American art production and alternative art schools in the post–World War II era. Through firsthand accounts from artists, the book is a window into this intensely private institution that was ahead of its time concerning representation, equity, and inclusion. With a commissioned portfolio of photographs by celebrated artist Elle Pérez evocatively rendering Skowhegan’s sylvan campus, the book vividly asserts the significance of the school’s rural Maine setting to its pedagogy while demonstrating its impact and influence on the art world at large.