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Michael Forster
Woodpecker's Joy, Abstraction

1984

$14,000
£10,486.59
€12,121.96
CA$19,660.42
A$21,413.36
CHF 11,333.34
MX$261,999.09
NOK 140,241.08
SEK 132,378.96
DKK 90,475.58

About the Item

Long before astronauts ventured into space Michael Forster captured the shifting face of the universe. Inspired by the radiant patterns and incandescent depths of space, Forster created rich abstract compositions that reflected the infinite movements and galactic terrains of space. Such resultant works are unique and place Forster in a class by himself. His passion for color as seen in Woodpecker’s Joy is evident. As the German art historian Paul Westheim once remarked about Forster: Colour is the medium of his expression, he has reduced all that is visible, all that is imaginable to colour, a strange and fantastic world of visionary colour. By means of colour, he knows how to give form to a whole range of emotions and feelings. A proponent of early Surrealism Forster placed an emphasis on the unconscious life of the artist in his perceptive sensual application of paint. Forster’s further concern for the essence of paint itself led him to create mesmerizing surface textures seen in our example that were deeply personal for Forster and full of emotion. The floating forms that seem almost to dance in this picture bear a close resemblance to Tamayo’s works especially through the all-enveloping, deep, full, and impressive array of colors. In this overall landscape composition Forster has reduced all visible images to the fantastical world of color. This highly refined and extremely disciplined abstract work boasts luminous passages of oranges, yellows, pinks, and lightly colored greens that resonate across the canvas and create a luster that is illustrative of the glowing landscapes or even of the universe. Forster’s further concern for his chosen paint material resulted in fantastic surface that incorporate the artist’s feelings, nostalgic remembrances, and emotions. Such rich variations add a special dimension to Forster’s works. The richness of color coupled with the artist’s dexterous handling of paint makes this work a truly spectacular example of Michael Forster’s work. Such varied and richly abstracted pictures place Forster as a stand-out amongst his contemporaries. This work measures 22 x 32.5 within its listed framed dimensions. It is not signed which is not unusual for this artist and it bears the record # FOR549A within the estate of Michael Forster and the provenance is Messums, England who handled the estate. Forster was active in Canada for more than forty-five years. His contributions to the development of Canadian art are only now receiving the attention they so richly deserve. A frequent exhibitor with the major art societies already by the 1930’s and with several of his paintings in the country’s major museum collections at an early age by the 1940’s, Forster is an artist with a unique and important place in the art annals of contemporary art that reaches beyond international borders.
  • Creator:
    Michael Forster (1907 - 2002, Canadian)
  • Creation Year:
    1984
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 27.75 in (70.49 cm)Width: 38.1 in (96.78 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Fine condition of the canvas. Frame is in good overall condition and ready to hang.
  • Gallery Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 140201stDibs: LU1413210606872

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Mexico-Curandero, Surrealist painting
Located in New York, NY
From 1952 until 1963 Forster resided in Mexico, a popular destination for Canadian artists. In Mexico City Forster became fully engaged in the art scene, becoming friendly with the great Mexican artists Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo who influenced Forster’s works. Forster placed special emphasis on the supremacy of color in works such as Mexico-Curandero. The floating or dancing forms in this picture bear a close resemblance to Tamayo’s works especially through the enveloping, deep, full, and impressive array of colors. This is a marvelous work with a rich palette and a suggestiveness of a human form. It is not signed which is not unusual for the artist and it is a recorded work #FOR558A - from the Michael Forster...
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1980s Surrealist Abstract Paintings

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Sunrise Dance, Celestial Sky
Located in New York, NY
Heavily influenced by the works of his close friend the famous Mexico City painter Rufino Tamayo, Forster created a special focus on the supremacy of color. And of larger context paintings that explored both nature and the universe. His paintings speak to all and of our oneness within this realm and an appreciation of it. The work is positive and wishes to unite and expand our vision outward from ourselves. This painting has a warmth of color that will enrich any room and compliment furniture and ambience. It is in a gold frame that has some wear to the gold patina. It is signed on the verso with an artist's cache of initials and it has the inventory # 798A from the estate, along with a date of 1992 on the back. The work comes out of the artist's estate as well as Messums Gallery from London. The piece measures 35 x 49 inches inside its frame. Forster's all-absorbing passion for color resulted in such magnificent gestural pictures as Sunrise Dance, 1992 with its intense color palette. Consistently experimenting and initiating fresh use of paint, Michael Forster...
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1990s Abstract Paintings

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Celestial Sky
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This remarkable painting evocative of the celestial universe is lovely in its texture, intensive brush work and lovely color palette. Forster who was Canadian, in his earlier years ...
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1990s Abstract Paintings

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Celestial Sky
$20,000 Sale Price
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This Celestial Sky painting is what Michael Forster is most celebrated for in his highly interesting career spanning working in Mexico and Canada. The brushwork creates a reverberati...
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