Alexander Farnham

"As far back as I can remember, I have been attracted to things visual. The illustrations in the books my mother read to me thrilled me as much if not more than the stories. I also enjoyed seeing the effects created by lights and shadows, which produced abstract patterns"
-Alexander Farnham

Originally from Short Hills, New Jersey, Alexander Farnham was a landscape painter inspired by the scenery of the Bucks County area. He first exhibited his work in 1942 and had received over 100 major awards since 1947 for his work which has been displayed all over the United States and Canada.

Farnham created plein air paintings that capture atmospheric elements of landscapes and realistic depictions of rural genre scenes. Farnham's favorite subjects were mostly located in New Jersey and the Delaware Valley, yet he had also painted a great deal of other scenic areas in places such as Maine and Rhode Island.

He entered in the US Navy in 1944 and after being assigned to the 8th Naval District he painted murals, covers, illustrations and cartoons for Naval publications in 1945 and 1946.

Farnham has exhibited in many areas around Bucks County including the Lambertville House, Phillips' Mill Annual Art Exhibition in New Hope, and the New Hope Historical Society. He is also in the collection of the Newark Museum.

Education
Art Students League, New York, NY

Teachers and Influences
Van Dearing Perrine, George Bridgeman, W.C. McNulty, Frank V. Dumond, Anne Steel Marsh, Harry Leith-Ross, Charles Sheeler, John Folinsbee, Daniel Garber, Edward Redfield and Edward Dufner

Affiliations and Memberships
President of Associated Artists of New Jersey, 1972-1977; Vice President from 1992-1993

Major Solo Exhibitions
National Arts Club, New York, NY, 1948, 1950, 1954
Fifty American Artists, Arthur Newton Galleries, New York, NY, 1955, 1956
Thumb Box Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, 1957
Lambertville House, Lambertville, NJ, 1958, 1965
Farleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ, 1959
Phillips' Mill Annual Juried Exhibition, New Hope, PA, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1993, 2005
National Academy of Design, New York, NY, 1960
Swain's Art Store and Gallery, New Hope, PA, 1961
Festival of Fine Arts, Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL, 1961
New Hope Historical Society, New Hope, PA, 1964
Sentinels Beyond the Wall, Newark Museum, Newark, NJ, 1965
Spook Farm Gallery, Far Hills, NJ, 1965
Painters of the NJ Scene 1865-1965, Argus Gallery, Madison, NJ, 1965
Eastern States Art Exhibition, Springfield, MA, 1965
Contemporary Americans, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, 1967
Little York Mill Gallery, Little York, NJ, 1968
Architectural Patterns, Gallery 9, Chatham, NJ, 1975
Benedict Gallery, Madison, NJ, 1977

Major Collections
Newark Museum
Monmouth College
National Arts Club
New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co.

Selected Major Awards
Salmagundi Club
Monmouth College
Art Center of the Oranges
Hunterdon Art Center
Plainfield Art Festivals
American Artist Professional League
Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Award
New Jersey Council on the Arts
76th Annual Fall Exhibition at Phillips Mill

In 1976, he was one of thirteen leading American Artists commissioned by the Franklin Mint to design pewter plates commemorating the American Revolution.

Professional Appointments
Zimmerli Museum and Rider University

Connection to Bucks County
Alexander Farnham exhibited in many galleries around Bucks County including the Lambertville House, Phillips' Mill Annual Art Exhibition in New Hope, and the Michener Art Museum in New Hope. He resided in Stockton, New Jersey.