Skip to main content

Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

American, 1904-2000
Clarence Holbrook Carter achieved a level of national artistic success that was nearly unprecedented among Cleveland School artists of his day, with representation by major New York dealers, scores of awards and solo exhibits, and streams of praise flowing from pens of the top art critics. Over the course of his 60+ year career Carter evolved from an exceptionally fine American Scene painter capable of evoking deep reservoirs of mood, into an abstractionist with a strongly surrealist bent. While his two bodies of work seem at first to be worlds apart, owing to their different formal vocabularies, they, in fact, explore virtually the same subject: the nexus between life and death and the transition from earth to spirit. The early work finds its expressive power through specific people, events, and landscapes—most of which are drawn from his experiences growing up in the river town of Portsmouth, Ohio—while the later work from the 1960s on evokes potent states of being through pure flat shape, color and form that read as universals. As his primary form he adopted the ovoid or egg shape, endowing it with varying degrees of transparency. Alone or in multiples, the egg moves through Carter’s landscapes and architectural settings like a sentient spirit on a restless quest. Born and raised in southern Ohio along the banks of the mercurial Ohio River and its treacherous floods, Carter developed a love of drawing as a child, and was encouraged by both his parents. He was self-directed, found inspiration all around him, and was strongly encouraged by the fact that his teenage work consistently captured art prizes in county and state fairs. Carter studied at the Cleveland School of Art from 1923-27, where he trained under painters Henry Keller, Frank Wilcox and Paul Travis. Returning to Cleveland in 1929, Carter had his first solo show, and through Milliken taught studio classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art from 1930-37. In 1938, he moved to Pittsburgh to teach at the Carnegie Institute of Technology until 1944. Carter’s American Scene paintings of the ’30s and ’40s, which launched his artistic star, are the works for which the artist remains best known. During and immediately after World War II, Clarence Carter realized his attraction to bold pattern, dramatic perspective and eye-catching hard-edged design was a poor fit with the prevailing style of Abstract Expressionism. Fortunately, these same hallmarks of his style were prized within the realm of commercial art. Around 1964 Carter acknowledged a need to break from the confines of representational painting. Once Carter had found a potent symbol in the egg, he used it to create an astounding body of imagery for the rest of his life. Among the most ambitious of all his later paintings were his Transections, a theological term meaning to cross, specifically between life and death.
(Biography provided by WOLFS)
to
4
3
1
3
1
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
2
1
4
1
3
93
45
44
43
36
4
Color:  Red
Artist: Clarence Holbrook Carter
Mandalas, Silkscreen by Clarence Holbrook Carter 1973
By Clarence Holbrook Carter
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Clarence Holbrook Carter, American (1904 - 2000) Title: Untitled (Mandalas in a Grid) Year: 1973 Medium: Silkscreen on Scintilla paper, Signed and numbered in pencil Edition:...
Category

1970s Abstract Geometric Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Joseph and His Brothers, Silkscreen by Clarence Holbrook Carter
By Clarence Holbrook Carter
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Clarence Holbrook Carter, American (1904 - 2000) Title: Joseph and his Brothers Year: 1971 Medium: Screenprint on Scintilla paper, sign...
Category

1970s Abstract Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Red Mandala, OP Art Silkscreen by Clarence Carter 1969
By Clarence Holbrook Carter
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Clarence Holbrook Carter, American (1904 - 2000) Title: Red Mandala Year: 1969 Medium: Silkscreen on Japon, Signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 75 Paper Size: 30 in. x 22 ...
Category

1960s Op Art Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Fiery Furnace, Surrealist Screenprint by Clarence Holbrook Carter
By Clarence Holbrook Carter
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Clarence Holbrook Carter, American (1904 - 2000) Title: Fiery Furnace Year: 1978 Medium: Serigraph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 200, AP 30 Paper Size: 35 x 26 inc...
Category

1970s Surrealist Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Related Items
Median with Circles, from Variants 1970 Screenprint 28 3/4 x 28 3/4 in. Edit
By Julian Stanczak
Located in Miami, FL
Technical Information: Julian Stanczak Median with Circles, from Variants 1970 Screenprint 28 3/4 x 28 3/4 in. Edition of 125 Pencil signed and numbered Accompanied with COA by Gre...
Category

1970s Op Art Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Abstract Geometric 1970s Vintage Silkscreen Screen Print Manner of Vasarely
By Paul M. Levy
Located in Surfside, FL
Paul Levy (American, b. 1944) An established designer and illustrator, Paul M. Levy was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1944. He received his B.S. in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1968, returning later to do independent study there. He also did independent study at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, in 1969 and received an M.F.A. in Sculpture and Printmaking from Ohio University, Athens. From 1964 through 1971 he worked for design firms in Ohio, New York and California. From 1971 through 1973 he taught at the University of Cincinnati and Ohio University, Athens. He has exhibited in galleries, museums and art groups. In 1971 he was one of a number of artists who created enormous outdoor murals in a Cincinnati project called "Urban Walls." His graphic designs and illustrations for such firms as Container Corporation of America have appeared in publications such as Fortune, Business Week...
Category

1970s Abstract Geometric Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Abstract Geometric 1970s Vintage Silkscreen Screen Print Manner of Vasarely
By Paul M. Levy
Located in Surfside, FL
Paul Levy (American, b. 1944) An established designer and illustrator, Paul M. Levy was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1944. He received his B.S. in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1968, returning later to do independent study there. He also did independent study at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, in 1969 and received an M.F.A. in Sculpture and Printmaking from Ohio University, Athens. From 1964 through 1971 he worked for design firms in Ohio, New York and California. From 1971 through 1973 he taught at the University of Cincinnati and Ohio University, Athens. He has exhibited in galleries, museums and art groups. In 1971 he was one of a number of artists who created enormous outdoor murals in a Cincinnati project called "Urban Walls." His graphic designs and illustrations for such firms as Container Corporation of America have appeared in publications such as Fortune, Business Week...
Category

1970s Abstract Geometric Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

'Evening' —Mid-Century American Surrealism
By Edward August Landon
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Edward Landon, 'Evening', color serigraph, 1958, edition 25, Ryan 71. Signed, titled, and annotated 'Ed. 25' in pencil. A fine impression, with fresh colors, on cream wove paper; the...
Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

'Nocturnal Adversary' — 1940s Surrealist Abstraction
By Edward August Landon
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Edward Landon 'Nocturnal Adversary', color serigraph, 1946, edition 50, Ryan 137. Signed in pencil in the image, lower right. Titled, dated, and annotated '6 COLORS EDITION 50' in th...
Category

1940s Surrealist Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Abstract Geometric 1970s Vintage Silkscreen Screen Print Manner of Vasarely
By Paul M. Levy
Located in Surfside, FL
Paul Levy (American, b. 1944) An established designer and illustrator, Paul M. Levy was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1944. He received his B.S. in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1968, returning later to do independent study there. He also did independent study at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, in 1969 and received an M.F.A. in Sculpture and Printmaking from Ohio University, Athens. From 1964 through 1971 he worked for design firms in Ohio, New York and California. From 1971 through 1973 he taught at the University of Cincinnati and Ohio University, Athens. He has exhibited in galleries, museums and art groups. In 1971 he was one of a number of artists who created enormous outdoor murals in a Cincinnati project called "Urban Walls." His graphic designs and illustrations for such firms as Container Corporation of America have appeared in publications such as Fortune, Business Week...
Category

1970s Abstract Geometric Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Hungarian Surrealist Abstract Hebrew Silkscreen Judaica Print Jewish Serigraph
By Jozsef Jakovits
Located in Surfside, FL
Abstract Hebrew Prints on heavy mould made paper from small edition of 15. there is a facing page of text in Hungarian folded over. Hard edged geometric abstract prints in color base...
Category

1980s Abstract Geometric Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Screen

Pop Art 1970s Vintage Silkscreen Screen Print Street Signs Titled Calendar
By Paul M. Levy
Located in Surfside, FL
Printed on heavy Strathmore paper. Paul Levy (American, b. 1944) An established designer and illustrator, Paul M. Levy was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1944. He received his B.S. i...
Category

1970s Abstract Geometric Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Abstract Geometric Composition
By Roland Martin
Located in Kansas City, MO
Roland Martin Abstract Geometric Composition Medium: Color Silkscreen Year: 1972 Signed, numbered and dated by hand Edition: 15 Condition: Minor Defects Size: 23.2 × 16.4 inches COA provided Roland Martin (born July 29, 1927 in Tuttlingen ) is a German sculptor . As a 16-year-old Martin was used in 1943 as a Luftwaffenhelfer, towards the end of the war he was taken prisoner. From 1946 to 1951 he studied at the Bernstein School in Glatt with Hans Ludwig Pfeiffer and Paul Kälberer In 1950 he was for a short time at the State Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe, Field Office Freiburg in Freiburg im Breisgau with Wilhelm Gerstel, from 1951 to 1952 he was a student of Fritz Nuss. Since 1952 Martin works as a freelance sculptor in Tuttlingen. Among his students is Jörg Bach...
Category

1970s Abstract Geometric Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Forager III (Ed. 1159/1443)
By James Jean
Located in Dallas, TX
The Forager convenes with the council of miniature sprites in a sylvan glen, the figures delicately illuminated with holographic foil and dimensional details. This elaborate print fe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Abstract Geometric 1970s Kinetic Silkscreen Screen Print Manner Vasarely Op Art
By Paul M. Levy
Located in Surfside, FL
Paul Levy (American, b. 1944) An established designer and illustrator, Paul M. Levy was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1944. He received his B.S. in Industrial Design from the Univer...
Category

1970s Abstract Geometric Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Signals - Screen Print by Leo Guida - 1984
By Leo Guida
Located in Roma, IT
Segnali is an artwork realized in 1984 by the italian Contemporary artist Leo Guida (1992 - 2017). Colored screen print on ivory-colored cardboard. Hand-signed, titled and dated o...
Category

1970s Surrealist Clarence Holbrook Carter Art

Materials

Screen

Signals - Screen Print by Leo Guida - 1984
No Reserve
H 27.56 in W 19.69 in D 0.04 in

Clarence Holbrook Carter art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Clarence Holbrook Carter available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, red, orange and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Clarence Holbrook Carter in paint, acrylic paint, synthetic resin paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Clarence Holbrook Carter, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Louisa Chase, Will Barnet, and John Taylor Arms. Clarence Holbrook Carter prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $500 and tops out at $65,000, while the average work can sell for $8,500.

Artists Similar to Clarence Holbrook Carter

Recently Viewed

View All