One of my favorite bookshop/art galleries in Los Angeles, LEADAPRON is hosting an opening this Thursday for the release of some of Morton Bartlett’s fascinating work:
Morton Bartlett, 1909 — 1992, was a private man whose passion became public after his death. The adopted only child of a Boston Brahmin couple, he left Harvard two years before graduating with the class of 1932.
Various jobs followed, such as gas station manager and printer’s broker, while he devoted himself to creating a fantasy family of perfectly sculpted children. Meticulously dressing and posing the anatomically correct figures, Bartlett would photograph them in staged scenarios, at once quotidian and dramatic: A girl curled up comfortably reading or dancing at ballet class, a boy at the beach, a startled child or two serene teenagers in a garden.
Discovered in its entirety only after his death in 1992 and the subsequent distribution of his estate, Morton Bartlett’s art has since received International acclaim. Described as a 20th century Lewis Carroll and sought after by private collectors and major museums, Bartlett’s life seemed as complete as his perfect family…until now.
A limited edition of large format original prints is being offered in 2010. Comprising Morton Bartlett’s most desirable and iconic images, no longer available in vintage format, these finely executed prints meet two obligations - allowing Morton Bartlett’s enigmatic vision and artistic legacy to continue while amplifying his remarkable attention to drama and detail.
A companion 60 page color catalogue, FAMILY FOUND – The Lifetime Obsession of Morton Bartlett, accesses original negatives and source material to show his drawings and study models. It includes most of the fantasy family images along with four insightful essays on his life and work.
FAMILY FOUND is available for purchase at $35.00
