During our time at Art Miami we had the chance to chat with Tom McCormick about his work with painter Mary Abbott over the past 20 years. Read what he had to say below.
ARTBnk: Can you tell us about the most interesting piece you brought with you to Miami?
Tom: One piece that sort of flies in the face of what I said earlier of just showing my local things is one of the other women I represent, she’s still alive, she’s technically contemporary. A painter named Mary Abbott, who is like Perle Fine, she was another one of the few women who was a part of the Abstract Expressionism movement. She was part of “The Club.” She was working in a cold-water studio on 10th Street right there with everybody else. I’ve represented her estate since 2000 so almost 20 years. So, I have a beautiful large painting from 1957 that’s a complete abstraction but it’s called a self-portrait and it's very interesting. I think it’s fantastic.
Tom steps away to sell a Perle Fine piece and returns.
ARTBnk: Can you tell us what just happened?
Tom: So, the people came back on the Perle Fine, it’s only been about 8 minutes. He just had to get a little more off to save face with his wife. So, he wanted to know what my real and truly best, lowest price was. Here’s my thinking, I’ve priced it and I’ve discounted it. So, for me to give a second lower price is like going to an auction and bidding against yourself. So, I said to him, “well it’s your turn, what will you pay?” So, he suggested a $100 less and I said “great.”
ARTBnk: Congratulations, we were talking about Mary Abbott.
Tom: Oh yea! So, I have this beautiful, big, kind of crazy, it doesn’t really look like her other work. This self-portrait, and I know its self-portrait because it’s titled on the back. Plus, I have this fabulous photo which I should have a copy of here, the day I got it out of Mary’s studio in Southampton, I had her stand and pose with it. She’s not nearly as tall as the painting so it’s just this really cute painting of - this was a couple years ago - 94-year old Mary Abbott standing there with her 1957 abstract self-portrait.
ARTBnk will be in Miami throughout Miami Art Week and will be visiting exhibits and booths at Art Basel and NADA Miami Beach, among other art fairs. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram to see our some of our favorite exhibits, parties, restaurants, and more!
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