Mid-20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Unique piece framed signed on right bottom mixed media

Chorus Line Oil pastel on paper, c. 1960's Signed (see photo) Provenance: Estate of the Artist Estate of the artist (Estate No. 745) Condition: Excellent Image/Sheet size: 5 3/4 x 4 inches Sam Spanier (1925-2008) Born in Brooklyn New York, Sam Spanier studied painting with Hans Hofmann (1949–50) and also at the Taos Valley Art School (1951). His formative years as a working artist were spent in Paris (1951–52), where he also became involved with the work of G. I. Gurdjieff, through his disciple, Mme. Jeanne de Salzmann. By 1953, Spanier’s work had already begun to meet with critical acclaim. That year, he had his first solo gallery show, and was selected by Milton Avery and Hans Hofmann to receive the prestigious Lorian Fund Award. His second solo exhibition, in 1955, was curated by renowned museum director, Gordon Washburn. Spanier’s early work was reviewed by Dore Ashton, Donald Judd, Fairfield Porter, Stuart Preston, and Irving Sandler, among other significant critics of the period. Spanier’s spiritual path increasingly became the central focus of both his life and his art. In 1960, he was introduced to the teachings of Sri Aurobindo, which led to visits to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, India, in 1962 and 1964, during which he was inspired to leave New York City and found Matagiri (in 1968)—a spiritual center in Woodstock, New York—with his lifelong partner, Eric Hughes. The work he embarked upon there bifurcates his life as an artist, separating him from New York’s art world, and radically altering the trajectory of his career. From that point forward, it would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to consider his artistic endeavor apart from the life of dedication he had undertaken, and to which he remained committed. As early as 1954, Dore Ashton had recognized in Sam Spanier a “haptic visionary;” in 1960, Irving Sandler wrote that the people in Spanier’s paintings “seem to have witnessed some transfiguring event.” In his later paintings—usually worked in oil pastel on panel or paper—made during intermittent creative periods, from the mid-1970s to the final years of his life, the artist’s inner life remains always apparent in his subject matter; and from the portraits and abstract Buddha-like figures and heads, to the fantasy landscapes, the paintings are redolent with a rich intensity of color and light that can only be described as inspired. Sam Spanier’s works are in the collections of the Historical Society of Woodstock Museum, and the Woodstock Artists Association & Museum. He received the Woodstock Artists Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. Selected Solo Exhibitions: Urban Gallery, New York (1954, 1955, 1956); Wittenborn Gallery, New York (1958); Gallery Mayer, New York (1958, 1959, 1960); Unison Gallery, New Paltz (1986, 1995, 2009); Limner Gallery, New York (1988); Fletcher Gallery, Woodstock, New York (1999). Selected Group Exhibitions: Salon des Comparaisons, Musée d’Art Moderne, Paris, France (1952); October Exhibition of Oil Paintings, New York City Center Gallery, New York (1954); Salon de Mai, Musée d’Art moderne de la ville de Paris, Centre Culturel de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Paris, France (1954); Carnegie International, Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1955); Les Plus Mauvais Tableaux, Galerie Prismes, Paris (1955); Première Exposition Internationale de l’Art Plastique Contemporain, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris (1956); Recent Paintings USA: The Figure, The Museum of Modern Art (1960); Winter’s Work, Woodstock Artists Association, Woodstock, New York (1985); Juried Group Show, Woodstock Artists Association, Woodstock, New York (1986); Woodstock Artists, Self-Portraits, Historical Society of Woodstock Museum, Woodstock, New York (1988); Portraits, Albert Shahinian Fine Art, Poughkeepsie, New York (2003); The World We Live In, Upstate Art, Phoenicia, New York (2003); Show of Heads, Limner Gallery, Phoenicia, New York (2004). Selected Writings on the Artist: Dore Ashton, “Sam Spanier,” Art Digest (May 1, 1954) and “Sam Spanier,” The New York Times (March 16, 1960); Cassia Berman, “Sam Spanier: A Divine Calling,” Woodstock Times (February 7, 2008); Lawrence Campbell, “Sam Spanier: Exhibition of Paintings at Urban Gallery,” Art News (April 1, 1954); Sam Feinstein, “Sam Spanier: Exhibition of Paintings at Urban Gallery,” Art Digest (March 1, 1955); Pat Horner, “Big Heart, Timeless Art —Sam Spanier Retrospective at Fletcher Gallery, Woodstock Times (July 1, 1999); Donald Judd, “In the Galleries: Sam Spanier,” Arts Magazine (April 1960); Liam Nelson, “Human Force...

We acquired a series of paintings from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below ...

"Space Odyssey" is an original watercolor painting by David Barnett. The artist signed the piece. This artwork features abstract marks and brushstrokes in blue, purple, gray, yellow,...

The present work represents the part of Sylvia Spicuzza's oeuvre where she explores purely abstract, non-representational imagery. In the image, the viewer is presented with colorful...

Dorothy Dehner (1901–1994) was an influential American multidisciplinary artist who worked with drawing, painting, printmaking, and most notably sculpture. Despite her artistic cont...

Cobwebs and Rocks Watercolor, 1940 Signed, dated, and copyrighted lower right Exhibited: Zimmerli Art Museum, Benjamin Benno: Retrospective Exhibition, 1988 Illustrated: Gustafson, Zimmerli Museum: Benjamin Benno: Retrospective Exhibition, 1988 Color Plate 14 copy copy of the catalog accompanies the watercolor Condition: excellent Image size: 14 3/4 x 21 inches Provenance: Estate of the Artist Ruth O...

Oil on paper Francine Ledieu is a French artist born in 1931 who lives and works in Paris, France. In the 50s, she was a student of Maurice Rocher who...

Margules, De Hirsh. UNTITLED COMPOSITION, Ink on paper, 1962. Inscribed and signed in pencil within the image. 28 x 37 inches, 711 x 940 mm. In very good condition. Margules (1899-1...

Scarlett, Rolph (American, born Canada, 1889-1984). UNTITLED ABSTRACTION. Colored pencils on paper, not dated. Signed, lower right. 5 5/8 x 8 1/4 inches (image), 6 x 8 3/4 inches, (s...

From a series of paintings and drawings by Clifford Ellis and his wife Rosemary. To see them or our other Modern British Art, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it clic...

Spray paint on paper. Stamped and framed. Frame dimensions: 68x85 cm Last painter of the school of Nice. This is an important painter, the first school in nice to have exhibited in ...

We acquired a series of paintings from Clifford and Rosemary Ellis's studio. To find more scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this seller." C...

An early drawing by this unique visionary artist, post Harvard Graduate School and concurrent with his apprenticeship to Frederick Kiesler

Composition with women. 1968. Paper, pencil, 35x24.5 cm Vladimir Borisovich Glushenkov (May 21, 1948, Riga - December 26, 2009, Riga.) - painter, graphic artist, poet, translator. Born in Riga in a Russian-Polish-German family. Vladimir Glushenkov...

Composition with figures. 1968. Paper, pencil, 35x24.5 cm Vladimir Borisovich Glushenkov (May 21, 1948, Riga - December 26, 2009, Riga.) - painter, graphic artist, poet, translator. Born in Riga in a Russian-Polish-German family. Vladimir Glushenkov...

Les Voiles by Léopold Survage (1987-1968) Watercolour on paper 23 x 38 cm (9 x 15 inches) Monogrammed, stamped and dated lower right Executed in 1945 Provenance Private collection, ...

Gray toned abstract watercolor painting on paper titled "Militair." Back side of the paper has another painting depicting red, yellow, green, and blue abstract shapes with figurative...

Abstract expressionist tribal painting of a nude female done in bold, vibrant colors by artist Gustave Alhadeff in 1962 with acrylic paint. Signed in upper right corner. Artist Biography: Born in the Belgian Congo in 1940, Gustave Alhadeff won his first award at the annual art show in Elisabethville, at age 13. His formal art education began with Mr. Marcel Pire (Prix de Rome). He continued his studies at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, with Mr. Van Nesche in Cape Town, South Africa from 1956 to 1957. He was awarded a scholarship from the Art Academy to continue his studies with Mr.Creytens at the "Institute National Superieur des Beaux Arts" in Anvers, Belgium. The following year he entered the class of Mr. Leon Devos...

Fusain on paper, signed lower right.

Charcoal on paper Francine Ledieu is a French artist born in 1931 who lives and works in Paris, France. In the 50s, she was a student of Maurice Roche...

Abstract landscape watercolor painting on paper that incorporates blue and grey tones. The painting is signed in the lower center and is currently displayed in a beautiful silver fr...

Fusain on paper, signed lower right

Mixed media, gouache and paper, signed . James Coignard est un peintre, graveur et sculpteur français, né le 15 septembre 1925 à Tours et mort le 7 mars 2008 à M...

Title: "Provincetown Drawing" Medium: pen and ink on paper Dimensions: 14 x 16 3/4 inches Signed: Initialed and dated 1942 Provenance: Manny Silverman Gallery...

Professor George De Goya. PhD. MA. FRSA. Born In Budapest, 1915-1992, related to the Spanish artist Goya on his mother’s side. Educated in Budapest and France where he received a de...

Manfred Schwartz (American, b. Poland, 1909-1970), Still Life of Bar Table, Charcoal on Paper, with the artist's signature stamped lower right, unframed. 20" H x 25.75" W. Provenance...

Rem Raymond Coninckx (1904 - 1974) Rem Raymond Coninckx was born on 28th March in Couvin (Belgium) 1904 and died in Dinan 1974. He was a painter, draftsman, engraver and also creat...

"Abstract Landscape" is an original watercolor painting by David Barnett, signed in the lower right corner. It is a playful piece, characterized by lines and splotches of color, high...

Art: 9-1/2"x12-1/2" Frame: 17-1/4"x 20-1/4" Abstract black marker on cream sketchbook paper. Signed Sylvania lower right. Silk lined matting and glazed in UV Clear Glass that filte...

In this drawing,"Art Deco Abstract," Sylvia Spicuzza presents the viewer with abstracted biomorphic forms in her elegant modernist style. Dominant in the image are two lilies, their ...

Original piece, Mixed media signed 70 x 53 x 3 cm (framed)

John Levee, an American abstract expressionist, served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Following the war, he harnessed the educational opportunit...

Willaim Hesthal California artist original watercolor. Surreal and whimsical circus scene with clowns. Signed lower right “Hesthal” and dated ‘39. Sheet measures 16" H x 23' W. Excel...

This abstract artwork is one of a group of over 100 pieces personally selected by the artist, and gifted to a close personal friend in 1969. Please note that this painting was never ...

"Cartoon for Stained Glass" is an original drawing in felt-tipped pen on paper by David Barnett, signed in the lower right corner. The image...

One of a group of over 100 works personally selected by the artist and gifted to a close personal friend in 1969, this work was never matted, framed, glued, taped or exposed to light...

etching on Japan paper , Edited in 1968, first state (of two) Limited edition of 30 copies for each state , numbered 8/30 in lower left Hand signed in pencil by artist in the lower r...

Dorothy Dehner (1901–1994) was an influential American multidisciplinary artist who worked with drawing, painting, printmaking, and most notably sculpture. Dehner's legacy has been overshadowed for many years by her ex-husband, the acclaimed sculptor David Smith. Stifled by their tumultuous relationship, Dehner only fully committed to her practice after divorcing him in 1951. This break was highly fruitful for her artistic output and reputation in the following years. After the divorce, Dehner refined her artistic voice and expanded her practice to include printmaking and sculpture. Her new-found independence and renewed ambition led to a pivotal relationship with the esteemed printmaking studio Atelier 17. Working there she formed a close and enduring friendship with Louise Nevelson. Today Dehner has been re-embraced and repositioned in the American art canon. Her work is best understood and appreciated in the context of not only David Smith but other artists dedicated to sculpture including Lee Bontecou, Louise Bourgeois, and of course Louise Nevelson. This energetic and hypnotic work on paper is somewhat of a departure from Denher's structured and intricate approach. Bold, frenetic strokes of ink loop chaotically across the surface, revelling in a sense of fluid dynamism that is in contrast with the artist's architectural arrangements. While it is notably looser and bolder then some of the drawings we expect from this era, we find the artist creating forms that are a harbinger of the muscular sculpture she would create in the following decade. Click here to see an example of a bronze sculpture from 1966 sold at Wright auction house...

"Constellation with Blue Cloud" is an original watercolor painting on paper by David Barnett, signed and dated in the lower left. The piece is abstract; a large blue ring...

Nudo , 1964 Etching on handmade paper limited edition of 102 copies , Signed in pencil by artist and numbered 33/102 paper size: 63 x 45 cm framed size: 78,5 x 60,5 cm A copy of the...

Love goes up in smoke is a drawing, realized by Mino Maccari, 1960s.  27 x 21 cm ; Sheet 14 x 9 cm.  Pen on cardboard. Good conditions!

"Art Deco Sailboat in Abstract Landscape #740" is an original colorful crayon drawing on paper by Sylvia Spicuzza, signed in pencil in the lower right corner. The sailboat of the title is in the center, set against a deep blue sky upon a dark green sea. It is framed by a abstract shapes of bright color that flow into one another in curving lines. The horizon line is maintained throughout the composition, and the effect is something like looking through a kaleidoscope. Art size: 8 1/2" x 7 1/4" Frame size: 16 1/4" x 14 1/2" Born in 1908, Sylvia Spicuzza was the daughter of noted painter Francesco Spicuzza. Sylvia devoted herself to teaching art to the students of Lake Bluff Elementary School in Shorewood, WI. During this time Sylvia produced a magnificent body of work that was undiscovered until her death. Sylvia's work is rich, diverse and fascinating collection of drawings...

Here, Sylvia Spicuzza has taken the opportunity to create a geometric, crystalline composition of color while testing a set of Rembrandt artist's pastels. Her fractured planes of col...

"Winter Palace" is a captivating abstract painting on paper by 20th Century Denver artist Edward Marecak (1919–1993). Created circa the 1960s, this ethereal work combines acrylic and...

This abstract pastel drawing by artist Amalua Schulthess features large light and dark blue blocks crossed by wide black lines. They are so wide that they could be easily mistaken fo...

This abstract artwork is one of a group of over 100 pieces personally selected by the artist, and gifted to a close personal friend in 1969. Please note this painting was never matte...

Conflict (1941) Gouache on paper 20" x 12" 27 ½" x 19 ¼" x 1 ½" framed Signed "V. Wicht" lower right. An important work from the artist's "Force" series, which were executed in hom...

"Chicken II" is an original ink drawing by David Barnett, signed in the lower left. The chicken is formed with expressive black gestural lines, viewed from the side. The sketchy line...

Abstract Composition is a drawing in watercolor on paper realized by an Anonymous artist in the 1961. Hand signed. Good conditions. The artwork is represented through organic and ...

Ballpoint pen on paper. Signed lower right. Accompanied by authentication on photo from the Mario Tozzi Archive. In master Tozzi's extensive production one finds many drawings, such...

Fred Conway “Two Golfers and a Caddy” c. 1965 Pen, Ink & Watercolor on Paper 13 x 17 inches Signed A member of the faculty of the Washington University Art School from 1929 to 1970, Frederick Conway...

Abstract Composition is a Watercolor artwork realized by Reynold Arnould (Le Havre 1919 - Parigi 1980) in 1970. Good condition included a white cardboard passpartout (35x51 cm). H...

View of Luxor is a Colors Markers Drawing realized by Reynold Arnould (Le Havre 1919 - Paris 1980). Good condition on a sheet of a notebook. No signature,titled and dated on the ...

Composition With Circles is a drawing artwork realized by an Anonymous artist in the 1950s. Pastel on paper. Very Good Conditions. The artworks are re...

The Picnic is a beautiful pen drawing on ivory-colored paper, realized in the mid-20th Century by an anonymous artist. Good conditions with some folding. ...

"Spacial Balance" is a series of four works by David Barnett in watercolor and pencil, all signed "David Barnett '68." Each is a different experiment in line, color, and balance. Sp...

This original abstract expressionist watercolor by Charles Ragland Bunnell (1897–1968) is a striking example of mid-20th-century American abstraction. The composition features bold b...

Pierre MONTHEILLET (1923-2011) Composition in green and yellow Mixed media on paper - monotype Signed and dedicated “pour mes amis Sallaz” lower right Dimensions of the work: 28.5 x ...

Original color drawing on paper. Hand signed lower front by Roberto Matta. Image size 12 x 16 inches. Frame size approx 23.25 x 27.5 inches. Artwork is in overall excellent co...