Heliker, John. (American, 1909-2000). RAIL GANG. Ink on paper, 1936. Inscribed to Rudi Young, and signed J. E. Heliker in ink, lower left. c. 9 1/2 x 13 inches; framed to 13 1/4 x 16 5/8 inshes. In excellent condition. Provenance: Kraushaar Galleries, with their label on the back of the frame; private collection, Indianapolis. Heliker was born in Yonkers, NY. He studied at the Art Students League between 1927 and 1929. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1951, taught at Columbia University, the Art Students League, and the Parsons School of Design. In 1965 he joined Mercedes Matter, Alex Katz, Philip Guston and others as a founding member of the New York Studio School. Kraushaar Galleries was his longtime dealer, and he had a final exhibition there shortly before his death in 2000. For many years he devided his time between New York City and Cranberry Island, ME. He had a long-term relationship with fellow artist Robert La Hotan. The two formed the Heliker LaHotan Foundation, which supports artist residencies in the homes and stiudios they had on Great Cranberry Island in Maine.
