Alice Neel (1900-1984) was one of this century"s most powerfully original portraitists. Her psychological vision as a painter of people has been described as both tender and unforgiving. This full-scale examination of her life and work accompanies a traveling retrospective organized by the Philadelphia Museum of Art that celebrates the centennial of her birth and is the first major exhibition of her work since 1974. From deeply personal paintings of her own family and neighbors to arresting portraits of important New York art-world figures like Andy Warhol, Robert Smithson, and Frank O"Hara, the 75 paintings and watercolors presented in this book hover disconcertingly between intimacy and monumentality and have an unforgettable impact. This centennial salute will focus renewed attention on one of the preeminent American artists of the 20th century. 175 illustrations, 100 in full color, 8 1/2 x 12" ANN TEMKIN is curator of 20th-century art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. SUSAN ROSENBERG is assistant curator of 20th-century art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. RICHARD FLOOD is chief curator at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis. EXHIBITION SCHEDULE Whitney Museum of American Art, New YorkJune 29-Sept. 17, 2000 Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover, MassachusettsOct. 6-Dec. 31, 2000 Philadelphia Museum of ArtFeb. 18-Apr. 15, 2001 Walker Art Center, MinneapolisJune 9-Sept. 2, 2001