Last summer I went to an art auction and feel in love with the paintings of Bob Mildrexler. I don't know much about him other than I believe he was local to the KC area and all of the paintings I have seen were from the mid 60s to 70s. There was one large painting in particular at the auction that I really wanted and bid pretty high on but ended up letting it go. And I regretted it! The only bad thing about that painting was the size. It would have been way too big to fit over my fireplace - which is where I have been wanting a painting. And then today at
River Market Antiques I found this! The size couldn't be more perfect (it is 2'x4') and the colors are awesome. It was painted in 1977 and has a similar look as the other painting I loved. It didn't come cheap but it was worth every penny!
Last summer I went to an art auction and feel in love with the paintings of Bob Mildrexler. I don't know much about him other than I believe he was local to the KC area and all of the paintings I have seen were from the mid 60s to 70s. There was one large painting in particular at the auction that I really wanted and bid pretty high on but ended up letting it go. And I regretted it! The only bad thing about that painting was the size. It would have been way too big to fit over my fireplace - which is where I have been wanting a painting. And then today at River Market Antiques I found this! The size couldn't be more perfect (it is 2'x4') and the colors are awesome. It was painted in 1977 and has a similar look as the other painting I loved. It didn't come cheap but it was worth every penny! 
I just love your fireplace. The painting looks great!
ReplyDeleteThat is a really cute painting!
ReplyDeleteAdorable! I love your fireplace, such character!
ReplyDeleteThat painting was meant for your beautiful and colorful fireplace. You couldn't have found anything better if you had commissioned someone to paint it for you. Great find. Your fireplace is really fun.
ReplyDeleteMy parents have a Mildrexler from the '6o's that was given to them by Bob. They knew him. Sailboats on the shore is what I thought of it as representing as I grew up.
ReplyDeleteWe were friends of his family in Kansas City. My parents knew him but I'm not sure how that relationship began. He had a son and older daughter. Names escape me at the moment. This was all before third grade for me and I haven't had contact with them since. They stayed in touch with them. I believe the Mildrexlers were divorced soon after we left the KC area, if not before. They were an artistic pair. My folks are still alive, if you are interested in more detail. I could quiz them about anything you might be interested in knowing.
ReplyDeletehello, it's great to see one of my dad's paintings again. I'm Craig Mildrexler, his son. I was 15 when Dad painted this piece. We were living in a duplex just south of Metcalf South Shopping Center then. In 1977, my mom left us. My dad wouldn't divorce her, didn't want her to lose the benes she got from his job. He was a model builder for Howard Needles Tammen and Bergendoff. Bob and Ginny Mount were good friends of my parents, they are my Godparents! I haven't seen them since 1973! This flower painting is all acrylic on masonite. The only way dad painted. He only sold originals, never made prints. In 1977, this painting could have been sold at the Plaza Art Fair, Ward Parkway Winter Show, Indian Springs Art Fair, or a few galleries around KC. I bet it went for under $80! It's a very cool piece. Congrats on landing it. If anyone would like more info on Dad, his bio so to speak, you can get my contact info off my website. www.AbstractsByCraig.com
ReplyDeleteOh yea, I followed in his steps.
Ciao
Craig Mildrexler
Love the painting and it matches your colourful fireplace just lovely!
ReplyDeleteI have 3 Mildrexlers. I can send pics of them if you like.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago, we bought a Mildrexler painting at an auction in Hoboken, NJ. It is a summer landscape painted on wood.
ReplyDeleteIt's a splendid piece that we cherish.
It looks like one of a series, similar to the piece hanging in the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library: http://www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/finearts/permart/mildrex.htm
Craig, I'd love to learn more about your Dad; the link to your Web site is no longer live. How can I reach you?
Thomas - the landscape paintings are my favorites! One of these days I'm going to hunt one down. I missed out on one at an auction and have been kicking myself ever since. I am lucky though that my collection has grown to four paintings. I hope you are able to get in touch with Craig. He is a wealth of information about his dad and is a pleasure to talk to.
ReplyDeleteLou Said....Bob and I were best friends for several years. He moved to Hutchinson, KS, when he retired. I have several of his paintings including still life, landscape, and abstract.
ReplyDeletefound one approx 16 x 22 - what should I expect to pay?
ReplyDeleteThe prices I see are generally between $100-250. I've seen a few really nice big ones go for a little more and a few at auction go a little less but that seems to be a typical range. I have four now and paid between $50 and $250 for them. I think they are a steal in that range!
ReplyDeleteI picked up this Mildrexler Painting at Crown Center Antique show in KC this morning. Anyone know if he painted these character on other paintings> I love it would like to find another simular painting. It is date 67 and is about two foot by two foot. The selelr said she bought them fram a Doctors estate sale a few years ago. The seller also had another one of his paintings, it was kind of large 3 foot long maybe, a scene with a white church building and the sun in the background. I did not look at the prce, maybe I should go back and buy it? If you have any somular painting for sale please contact me jmagruder10@comcast.net Here are some links to the painting.
ReplyDeletehttp://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc185/jmagruder10/P6120341.jpg
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc185/jmagruder10/P6120348.jpg
I guess my link does not work, If you want to see this painting, drop me an email.
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I'm pretty sure that painting is of Bob's "Hippies." I know he painted more of them but have no idea with what frequency. I have a painting from the same year of crows that has a real similar look. I need to get a picture of that one put on the blog. I've seen quite a few examples of the other painting with the buildings. I like them a lot though the winter scenes aren't my favorite because I can't stand snow! I think the seller was asking $350 for that at one point but maybe the price has gone down. I'm still looking to add a farm scene to my collection but I want a different season.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a picture of the crows painting. If you can email me a picture of it. jmagruder10@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteI picked up another mildrexler painting this weekend. It is large. 37 x 25 1/2 looks like a big pile of fruit. has a blue ``Table`` at the bottom and lots of white in the back ground. The seller of this painting also has 3 others for sale. Not the subject matter that I would have chossen, but my wife really liked it , and the colors worked in the room we wanted it for , so we bought it. $300
ReplyDeleteI have a 1965 Mildrexler of a farmscape. My mother was an artist at the sametime. Bob and my mom traded artwork. It has been in every home I have ever had. Love it forever.
ReplyDeleteI love the farm scenes! That is tops on my wish list. How fun that your Mom traded artwork with Bob. My collection of his paintings has grown to 5 now and I love them all.
ReplyDeleteBob was my uncle, one of my mother's three brothers. Unfortunately, my mom and her brothers have all passed. Haven't seen his kids--my cousins--Craig or 'Sammy', in what seems like a hundred years. It was wonderful to find these posts and to know that so many people enjoy Uncle Bob's art! I have four of his paintings. I am planning to downsize my 'stuff' and lifestyle for retirement and would be willing to sell some or all of these paintings (may 'need' to keep one for sentimental reasons). If anyone is interested, I can send pics. Just email me at day@4daylight.com.
ReplyDeleteI found one of Bob's piece at an estate sale in Tucson. I fell in love with the colors and would like to know if anyone knows where I can buy more of his art?
ReplyDeleteI forgot to leave my contact info incase anyone knows where I can purchase some of Bob's art...
ReplyDeletescottrevans@yahoo.com
Thanks!
anyone wishing to purchase a Mildrexler painting can contact me at texas.mom@verizon.net
ReplyDeleteI have several of his paintings and need to downsize space.
Ms. Lou
Bob was my brother-in-law and I have four of his works. One is a still life of the fruits and flowers in a vase like you see in the main photo on this site, more fruit but only one vase of flowers, one is a seaside hanging over my fireplace (1962), one is a Kansas farm scene with moon (1977) much like the one hanging in the Library in Kansas City Kansas, and my favorite is one of his best, a whimsical child with balloons, chickens and eggs (1960). Bob has a surviving son who is also an artist, Craig Mildrexler . Bob’s full name is Robert Donald John Mildrexler. He studied at the Kansas City Art Institute in the 1950's. I used to go to his shows at the Kansas City Plaza art fair. He was remarkably good at drawing strait lines, worked as a graphic artist for an engineering firm, and was a special top secret map maker while in the military. Glad to see some interest in his work. While he and my sister Lynn had a stormy relationship at times in their marriage, and broke up in their later years, I always considered him a close friend.
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