A Gallery Focusing on California and American Modern Art
Spencer Helfen, a specialist in California and American Modernist art, died on November 22, 2020, at age 59. He was the founder and director of Spencer Helfen Fine Arts in Beverly Hills, California.
Born in 1961, Spencer grew up “in a home filled with art and art books,” he wrote on the gallery’s website. “It therefore is no surprise that I would choose to live my life surrounded by artworks that inspire, educate, excite, comfort — by art that feeds the mind and spirit.”
After earning multiple academic degrees, two in history from UCLA and one in law from UC Berkeley, Spencer became a successful business transactional attorney. During his law career, Spencer developed a collection of historical California Modernist art from the 1920s to 1940s that increasingly grew as a passion that transformed into a new career as a gallerist.
Spencer Helfen Fine Arts was established to bring California Modernist art to the public’s attention — including many artists whose outstanding reputations have become obscured by the passage of time. “I have brought the gallery’s works of art to life by linking them to the artist’s life history and the life and times of the people of California who so often inspired those works,” Spencer wrote.
The art available from his collection may be seen here.
Inquiries may be made to info@helfenfinearts.com or calling (310)273-8838.