Martin Ramirez (right) holding up one of his large drawings with art and psychology professor Tarmo Pasto (left) at DeWitt State Hospital.
NYTimes just reported the finding of some 140 new works by Mexican outsider artist Martin Ramirez who’s work previously numbered at around 300. The works were discovered by the daughter-in-law of one Martin Ramirez’s doctors, Dr. Dunievitz. The article mentions that not one of Martin’s surviving family, some in California others in Mexico, have ever received any money from the sale of his work that has recently fetched over $100,000USD at recent auctions. The new dealer of this new find, Frank Maresca of Ricco/Maresca, and Peggy Dunievitz are just now thinking of possibly setting up a “education and art foundation” instead of giving some of his art work or money directly to the family. Mrs. Dunievitz is quoted saying about the family:
“There are more than 50 of them [family members],” [...] “How do you slice a pie that thin?”
But Mrs. Dunievitz’s son seemed to know what even a thin slice might be able to afford them: “We might be able to buy a house,” [...] “which would be nice.”
While another side of him still felt sad for his family:
“The family doesn’t even have one piece of his art, and that kills me,”
The American Folk Museum just recently had an exhibition of 97 works by Martin Ramirez this past summer. The exhibition is now at the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin until January 13, 2008.
Trove of Unknown Work Expands Outsider’s Legacy
By Randy Kennedy in New York Times
Published: October 29, 2007
