JANICE ANTHONY Birdwatcher II 1993 acrylic on linen 14.5 x 19 inches $2200

December 3 – January 10, 2026

“What Came Before”

Artist’s Reception: Wednesday, December 3 from 5pm–7pm

Catalog with Artist’s Statements is available
$28 postage paid in US
To Order e-mail us at info@courthousegallery.com

What Came Before offers a rare glimpse into the formative stages of an artist’s creative journey with “What Came Before,” an exhibition highlighting early artworks by a diverse group of contemporary artists, many of whom have been working for five or more decades. These overlooked artworks have remained out of view, overshadowed by an artist’s own productivity, or later periods of maturity and recognition. Placed together, the collective emerges with a fresh vitality, asking collectors and viewers to reconsider the power of a forgotten artwork when it returns into view.

Poised just as the year turns at a moment between reflection and renewal, What Came Before creates a dialogue about beginnings and the experimentation that shaped each artist’s practice: tentative gestures, tested boundaries, risks, discoveries, bold departures, and the early sparks that anticipated future directions. 

Participating Artists:  Susan Amons, Janice Anthony, Jeffery Becton, Lise Bécu, Ragna Bruno, Tom Curry, Heidi Daub, Rick Fox, Philip Frey, Kate Hanlon, Jon Imber (1950–2014), William Irvine, Richard Keen, Philip Koch, Joseph Keiffer, Rosie Moore, John Neville, Alison Rector, Katherine Wilkes.

TOM CURRY Chatto Island 1999, oil on canvas, 30 x 36 inches $9500 PHILIP KOCH Fall At Lake Lemon 1971, oil on canvas, 16 x 19 inches $4000 RAGNA BRUNO Bean Island oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches $16000 LISE BÉCU Woman with Lamb ca. mid-1990's, stained white pine, 67h x 18w x 14d inches $9800 JANICE ANTHONY Birdwatcher II 1993 acrylic on linen 14.5 x 19 inches $2200 ALISON RECTOR Warm Bath 1997, oil on panel, 11.5 x 12 inches $2200 RICHARD KEEN Ocean Hull No. 76 2010, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches $6000 PHILIP FREY Ready To Go 2012, oil on linen, 24 x 36 inches $5000 RICK FOX Evening Planes 2012, oil on canvas, 20 x 20 inches $3600 WILLIAM IRVINE The Bellini Blue Sea ca. 2005, oil on board, 20 x 30 inches $4600 JUDY BELASCO West Branch II oil on canvas, 28 x 34 inches $4000 JEFFERY BECTON Easter Sunday 2011, photomontage, 14.5 x 14.5 inches KATHERINE WILKES Venice Haze 2021, acrylic on board, 14 x 18 inches $1250 JON IMBER Silverhill 1995, oil on panel, 20 x 30 inches $14,000 ROSIE MOORE Three Rowboats 1983, oil on panel, 25 x 34 inches HEIDI DAUB Where We Go 1995, acrylic on paper, 22 x 30 inches $2500 B MILLNER January Barn 2002, oil on panel, 18 x 24 inches JOSEPH KEIFFER Sundown oil on canvas, 15 x 30 inches SUSAN AMONS Sirens and Dolphins III 1996, monoprint, 14 x 12 inches $800 SUSAN AMONS Sirens and Dolphins II 1996, monoprint, 14 x 12 inches $800 JESSICA LEE IVES Beehive, Front Side 2015, oil on panel, 5 x 7 inches $750 JESSICA LEE IVES Evening Reflection - Soft Light 2012, oil on panel, 8 x 10 inches $1000 KATE HANLON Garden Wedding 1999, white line woodcut, 16.5 x 16.75 inches $1600 unframed JOHN NEVILLE Harbor Scene 2004, oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches $6000 PHILIP BARTER (1939–2024) A Day At The Lake 1983, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches from a private estate Price on Request STEPHEN PACE Birch Trees 1977, oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches DAHLOV IPCAR Black Snails 1999, oil on canvas, 12 x 24 inches $13,000 JUDITH LEIGHTON Suburb pastel, 24 x 17.5 inches $3000 CHENOWETH HALL Plowed Grounds at the Sands watercolor, 15 x 20 inches HOLLY MEADE (1956–2013) Cookies woodblock print, 20 x 30 inches edition of 8 $1200
TOM CURRY Chatto Island 1999, oil on canvas, 30 x 36 inches $9500
Inquire
PHILIP KOCH Fall At Lake Lemon 1971, oil on canvas, 16 x 19 inches $4000
Inquire
RAGNA BRUNO Bean Island oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches $16000
Inquire
LISE BÉCU Woman with Lamb ca. mid-1990's, stained white pine, 67h x 18w x 14d inches $9800
Inquire
JANICE ANTHONY Birdwatcher II 1993 acrylic on linen 14.5 x 19 inches $2200
Inquire
ALISON RECTOR Warm Bath 1997, oil on panel, 11.5 x 12 inches $2200
Inquire
RICHARD KEEN Ocean Hull No. 76 2010, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches $6000
Inquire
PHILIP FREY Ready To Go 2012, oil on linen, 24 x 36 inches $5000
Inquire
RICK FOX Evening Planes 2012, oil on canvas, 20 x 20 inches $3600
Inquire
WILLIAM IRVINE The Bellini Blue Sea ca. 2005, oil on board, 20 x 30 inches $4600
Inquire
JUDY BELASCO West Branch II oil on canvas, 28 x 34 inches $4000
Inquire
JEFFERY BECTON Easter Sunday 2011, photomontage, 14.5 x 14.5 inches
Inquire
KATHERINE WILKES Venice Haze 2021, acrylic on board, 14 x 18 inches $1250
Inquire
JON IMBER Silverhill 1995, oil on panel, 20 x 30 inches $14,000
Inquire
ROSIE MOORE Three Rowboats 1983, oil on panel, 25 x 34 inches
Inquire
HEIDI DAUB Where We Go 1995, acrylic on paper, 22 x 30 inches $2500
Inquire
B MILLNER January Barn 2002, oil on panel, 18 x 24 inches
Inquire
JOSEPH KEIFFER Sundown oil on canvas, 15 x 30 inches
Inquire
SUSAN AMONS Sirens and Dolphins III 1996, monoprint, 14 x 12 inches $800
Inquire
SUSAN AMONS Sirens and Dolphins II 1996, monoprint, 14 x 12 inches $800
Inquire
JESSICA LEE IVES Beehive, Front Side 2015, oil on panel, 5 x 7 inches $750
Inquire
JESSICA LEE IVES Evening Reflection - Soft Light 2012, oil on panel, 8 x 10 inches $1000
Inquire
KATE HANLON Garden Wedding 1999, white line woodcut, 16.5 x 16.75 inches $1600 unframed
Inquire
JOHN NEVILLE Harbor Scene 2004, oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches $6000
Inquire
PHILIP BARTER (1939–2024) A Day At The Lake 1983, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches from a private estate Price on Request
Inquire
STEPHEN PACE Birch Trees 1977, oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches
Inquire
DAHLOV IPCAR Black Snails 1999, oil on canvas, 12 x 24 inches $13,000
Inquire
JUDITH LEIGHTON Suburb pastel, 24 x 17.5 inches $3000
Inquire
CHENOWETH HALL Plowed Grounds at the Sands watercolor, 15 x 20 inches
Inquire
HOLLY MEADE (1956–2013) Cookies woodblock print, 20 x 30 inches edition of 8 $1200
Inquire
© Courthouse Gallery Fine Art 6 Court Street, Ellsworth, Maine 04605 207 667 6611
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