D.J. Hall (American, b. 1943), The Wildest Heart

Colored pencil on paper, 1975, signed and inscribed along lower margin, matted and framed under glass.

Sight size 20 x 26 in.; Frame dimensions 27 1/2 x 33 in.

DJ Hall is a California artist best known for her realistic paintings of women relaxing by swimming pools. Born in Los Angeles, she studied at the University of Southern California, UCLA, and earned her BFA from the Otis Art Institute in 1975. Hall began gaining attention in the 1970s as part of a group of West Coast artists using photorealism. Her work is notable for its detailed attention to light, color, and surface, especially in how it captures water and sunlight. Unlike many of her male counterparts, Hall’s images offer a woman’s point of view, often focusing on moments of quiet and ease.

Throughout her career, Hall has explored themes like beauty, memory, and the roles women play in everyday life. Her early paintings focus on scenes of leisure, often set around pools, while later work reflects on aging and personal change. Though her style remains detailed and controlled, the subjects have grown more introspective over time. Hall’s paintings are in several museum collections, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Palm Springs Art Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Soft cockling to sheet; minor nicking to frame; not examined out of the frame.