Americans in Paris

This exciting VRFA fine art project Americans in Paris (AIP) aims to follow in the footsteps of many historical
masters who had traveled to Paris to be inspired and to introduce today’s leading fine artists in Realism and Impressionism to new alluring foreign subjects and themes. It began with a purpose to inspire contemporary American artists to travel to Paris and discover exciting new ideas for their works, and to study advanced group composition in the museums of fine art in a place where historically so many important artists had found inspiration and formed connections before. Inspired by the great American painters before them, such as Sargent, Whistler and Cassatt to name a few, a group of American realist and impressionist artists would travel to Paris to draw inspiration from the city of light, architecture and fine art. There they attended fine museums, examined the masters, absorbed the culture, shared ideas and painted together with the goal of reaching the next level of mastery in their work.
To raise capital for the first trip, Rothe curated an exhibition at the Salmagundi Club in New York in the spring of 2016, where twenty invited American artists sold work and were able to fund their travel. The AIP group also presented their ideas and did live demonstartions at Rothe’s fine art school, Laguna College of Art and Design.
The initial visit to Paris, organized by Rothe, was created to be a workshop as well as a journey. Arriving in Paris, May 2017 the artists were not only able to study valuable art history, and paint en plein air around Paris, but engaged in fine art discussions each evening to discuss and debate art history, current artist trends, topics and to make plans for upcoming group exhibitions.The twelve AIP artists painted in Paris together and at the Grande Chaumière Atelier for a week as they filled their sketchbooks and minds with ideas, some new and some inspired by the past. Echoing the ‘salons’ of the past, the AIP artists engaged each day in lively evening discussions based on specific topics, like earlier creative groups had done, such as the Impressionists or Hemingway and Fitzgerald’s writing gatherings held in Paris bistros and bars years before. In addition to Rothes lectures on the relationship of literature to fine art and how they inspire one another, Sean Forester from the Golden Gate Atelier spoke on art and humanities and gave his notes on composition. Rothe also presented a slide show lecture on Atmostpheric Perspective and how it was used by the masters and artists of today.
In spring 2018 it was time to show the result of their experiences with some new and exciting paintings. Rothe curated and organized two bi-continental exhibitions at the foremost galleries for Realism in America and France. These showcased the AIP artists’ original works by inspired by their stay in France, from Paris nocturnes to Louis XIV interiors, from winged figures and florals by the masters to figures in the landscape and from the literature and group discussions held in Paris. The first of these exhibitions was held at Arcadia Contemporary in Los Angeles, CA, April 2018 and the second at Galerie Prince de L’Oeil in Paris, France, May 2018. Both were met with great success.
In 2019 The artists traveled again to Paris, some in small groups, some on their own and began to created new works inspried by what they have learned for their next show and AIP workshops. COVID hit and things were postponed 2 years.
In the Fall of 2021 Vanessa proppsed the theme of Art Nouveau to the aritsts to paint and draw inspiration from one of the most beautiful genres of art to hit Paris and Europe in the 1880-1920’s. ART NOUVEAU. Inspired by Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt, and Louis C Tiffany works are filled with Gold, petina green, flowers and more. They welcomed collectors to Laguna Beach and online to enjoy the spendors of this belle period in art history.
This year in 2022 Rothe formed a collaboration with Workhops in France travel company and created an American in Paris paint provence workshop that was open to the public, both to art students and patrons alike. Finally the teachings and solutions from the professional painters would be made public with demos, lecture and paint outs for the public. The workshop sold out. April 26th thru May 5th 2022 featured 5 of the AIP artists who taught figure in the landscape, portrait, group composition and atmospheric perspective to 24 students. Rothe lectured on French Impressionism and art history in the evenings and group discussions and paint outs took place.
In 2023 Americans in paris will host its Fine Art and Fashion themed event in New york featuring works and presentations by Casey Baugh and other NYC artists as well as the core AIP group. Stay tuned for more!

History of the Americans in Paris Exhibitions and Events Below- 2016 to Present

UPCOMING AIP Events and Exhibitions

April 2023 NEW YORK - VRFA Gallery's Americans in Paris, "Fine Art and Fashion"

APRIL 16th - 23rd, 2023 NYC

VRFA Gallery's Americans in Paris fine art project and painters group adopts one of the gallery's annual themes of FINE ART and FASHION as the AIP artists create works inspired by historical fashion icons, and contemporary fashion and design for SPRING of 2023.
30 top artists, 80 new works on 5th avenue in Manhattan, New York City.

From fur coats, to the iconic Chanel and Audrey Hepburn, the show opens in SPRING 2023 at the Salmagundi club NYC on 5th avenue and online from anywhere in the world. Cityscapes of New York and Paris will also be available in large scale and mini study versions.

Live demonstrations by award winning artist Michelle Dunaway.
Slideshow lecture and presentation by award winning artist Casey Baugh.
Slideshow lecture on the Fashion and Fine Art thru the ages 1900-2023 by curator,
artist, writer Vanessa Rothe.

Plan your trip to the big apple to join us!

APRIL 26th to May 5th, 2022

VRFA's "AMERICANS IN PARIS" artist retreat in France, hosted by Workshops in France. April 26th to May 5th, 2022
Watch the NEW PROMO VIDEO on the EVENTS page

2022-Spring April 26th to May 5th, 2021. VRFA Gallery's Americans in Paris teams up with Workshops in France for a Retreat in Provence at a Castle! Artists: Casey Childs, Michelle Dunaway, Aldo Balding, Olga Krimon, and Founder Vanessa Rothe teaching figure, portrait and landscape sessions with evening salons discussing art history and literature. AIP workshops are open to collectors and artists alike, a few spaces available. April 26th to May 5th 2022 www.workshopsinfrance.com

November 2021

"AMERICANS IN PARIS" ART NOUVEAU
Fine Art Exhibition

November 12th, 2021 - January 12th 2022 at VRFA gallery
AMERICANS IN PARIS Upcoming Exhibition with new THEME of " ART NOUVEAU"
40 Artists 85 new works of art reviving the stunning genre of Art Nouveau

Please see our EVENTS page for more information on this great theme and 30 invited artists, lectures and MORE INFO on art nouveau and its celebration of nature and the arts.

2015-2016 VRFA Gallery's AIP Exhibition in NYC to raise funds, held at the Salmagundi Club. The Paris Seminar Lectures and Exhibition in New York

pariscollection2015.p3.pdf
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2016 VRFA Gallery curated Exhibition, Lectures and Art Demonstrations by Americans in Paris group artists to raise funds at Laguna College of Art and Design. Gottlieb, Lipking, Sammons, Rothe, Forester. More Press Articles below.

2017 VRFA gallery's AIP #1 Trip to Paris with 12 top American Fine Artists. Travel, painting and discussions in France. Images from voyage, above in intro.

2018 MAY VRFA gallery's AIP Exhibition 1 of 2 Bi-Continental Exhibitions
Hosted by Arcadia Contemporary. Catalog to right, PDF.

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2018 VRFA gallery's AIP Exhibition 2 of 2 Bi-Continental Exhibitions.
Paris France Hosted by Galerie Prince de L'Oeil, May
+ Trip with collectors and artists painting live in Paris.

A Sampling of Press + Works below from our Exhibition Catalogs:

Write up on the Americans in Paris fine art project

As seen in MODERN LUXURY MAGAZINE
April 2016

Read article here to the right...

inside_track_patronage_finished_12-8-14.pdf
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3 page Article on American in Paris in
FINE ART CONNOISSEUR MAGAZINE April 2016

As seen in AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR MAGAZINE
Write up on the Paris Seminar for Americans in Paris
presented at LCAD- Laguna College of Art and Design, 2016

10 page article in ARTISTS ON ART online Magazine
by Rothe about the Americans in Paris

March 2017

Read article here to the right...

rothe_aoa_2017.pdf
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Southwest Art Magazine
write up about Ryan Brown and the Americans in Paris

Article in MODERN LUXURY MAGAZINE
About VRFA Gallery and the Americans in Paris project
Dec 2018

Sample works sold from our AIP Exhibitions-

Americans in Paris Art Project is proudly sponsored by Sennelier/Savoir Faire Art Supplies and RAYMAR fine art Panels
Cerno Revelite, and Workshops in France retreats and instructed workshops.

REMBRANT
ROYAL TALENS