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Paul Kauver Smith1950s Abstract Oil Painting, Mid-Century Modern Art in Blue, Black & Whitecirca 1955
circa 1955
$1,450
£1,111.53
€1,272.24
CA$2,071.27
A$2,271.54
CHF 1,176.89
MX$27,294.35
NOK 14,814.92
SEK 13,904.23
DKK 9,504.79
About the Item
This original 1950s abstract oil painting by acclaimed Mid-Century Modern artist Paul K. Smith (1893–1977) features a dynamic and refined composition in tones of blue, gray, black, ivory, and brown, with subtle underlayers of orange, red, and green peeking through the textured surface. The artwork exemplifies Smith’s sophisticated modernist style, marked by a balance of geometric abstraction and soft color transitions, characteristic of post-war American art.
Executed with confident brushwork and a muted yet expressive palette, this painting captures the timeless appeal of mid-century abstraction, making it a compelling addition to any modern or contemporary art collection.
Medium: Oil on board
Frame dimensions: 18 ½" H x 21 ¾" W
Image size: 11" H x 15" W
Frame: Custom contemporary frame that complements the modern aesthetic
Provenance: Estate of Paul K. Smith
About the Artist – Paul K. Smith (1893–1977)
Paul K. Smith was a pivotal figure in the Mid-Century Modern art movement in Colorado. He studied commercial art at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts and Washington University, later relocating to Colorado in 1921 to study under noted modernist John E. Thompson.
Smith became a central force in the Denver art scene. He taught at the Denver Academy of Fine and Applied Arts and had his work first exhibited at the Denver Art Museum in 1923. His paintings were included in the Anne Evans Collection, and one was featured in the 1959 Western Heritage Exhibition Catalogue. A member of the American Artists Professional League, Colorado Art Guild, and Denver Art Guild, Smith was also part of The Colorado Fifteen, a group of progressive artists who shaped the region’s artistic identity.
This piece offers a rare opportunity to own an original work by a key contributor to American modernism and Colorado's mid-century art movement.
- Creator:Paul Kauver Smith (1893 - 1977, American)
- Creation Year:circa 1955
- Dimensions:Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)Width: 21.75 in (55.25 cm)Depth: 0.7 in (1.78 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Framing:Frame IncludedFraming Options Available
- Condition:very good to excellent vintage condition.
- Gallery Location:Denver, CO
- Reference Number:Seller: DCG-129261stDibs: LU2735343832
Paul Kauver Smith
Paul K. Smith Born Missouri, 1893 Died Colorado, 1973 Paul Kauver Smith studied commercial art and design at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts from 1915-16 with a brief interruption during World War I. After the war, he returned to the School of Fine Arts and went on to study at Washington University in St. Louis. In 1921, Smith moved to Colorado to study under John E. Thompson at the Denver Academy of Fine and Applied Arts. Thompson, who is considered to be the pioneer of modernism in Denver, was a strong influence on Smith. In 1923, Smith was hired by the Academy as an instructor. That same year, his work was accepted for the first time for display at the Denver Art Museum and he was also awarded two solo exhibitions. The museum later added his work to their Anne Evans collection. In 1959, the Denver Art Museum also reproduced one of his paintings titled Houses at Victor for their Western Heritage exhibition catalogue. Smith became a permanent resident of Denver and was a member of the American Artists Professional League as well as the Colorado and the Denver Art Guilds. He also joined a Denver group called The Colorado Fifteen. “The Fifteen” came into existence in 1948 as an association of professional artists dedicated to the avant-garde. The group was well known and was a crucial contribution to Denver's cultural landscape. © Stan Cuba for David Cook Galleries
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