Ted Hartley: From Warhol Subject to Artist—A Master of Reinvention Steps Into a New Chapter

Nicolas Auvray Gallery is pleased to announce “Onward”, a solo exhibition of Ted Hartley, running from January 22 through February 12, 2025. The show highlights Hartley’s exploration of storytelling and the emotional depth of his work.

Ted Hartley’s life is a testament to reinvention. From Olympic wrestler to Navy pilot, actor to head of RKO Pictures, Hartley has continuously embraced new chapters with passion. Today, as a painter, his diverse experiences inform a body of work rich in texture, authenticity, and emotion.

Hartley first entered the art world as a subject: in the mid-1980s, he posed for Andy Warhol at a celebrity tennis event in Monaco. Those portraits later became the center of a New York gallery exhibition, placing Hartley at the heart of the art world and setting the stage for his creative transformation.

Inspired by his wife, actress and philanthropist Dina Merrill, Hartley discovered painting as an emotional outlet. "I want my work to feel alive," he says. "Texture allows me to create vibrancy and movement. It's about capturing emotion in a way that resonates deeply with the viewer." In series such as his Ukraine paintings, Hartley applies thick layers of paint and palette knives, or paint directly from the tube, to convey movement, force, and raw emotion.

For Hartley, art is about emotional honesty, shaped by early experiences. "You either get over it, go under it, or break it down," he reflects. "Life is about dealing with walls. It's about moving forward." The theme of Onward runs through the exhibition, reflecting Hartley’s belief in moving forward with determination and purpose, whether in military service, Hollywood, or painting.

Gallerist Nicolas Auvray describes Hartley’s work: "Born from life, from the living of it. He paints not with thought but with the action of painting. Each stroke, each layer, is a moment of feeling. His work is the truth of the canvas, not the thought of it. This exhibition allows you to see what it means to be in the moment of creation—raw, honest, and real."