During a trip to Europe following his graduation from high school, a young David Ligare boldly walked up to the home of artist Salvador Dalí in Port Lligat, Spain, and knocked on the front door. Fortunately for Ligare, the legendary Surrealist was home. Even more fortunate, Dalí agreed to speak with him, and the two spent the afternoon chatting in his studio. Although it’s not known what they discussed, Ligare later became a painter. While his landscapes, still lifes and narrative oil paintings expand upon the realist tradition, the figures in his works are stylized — they’re polished and wholly free of imperfection.
Ligare was born in 1945 in Oak Park, Illinois. At the age of five years old, he moved with his family to California and, in later years, studied at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena.
In 1978, Ligare’s artistic style took shape after joining a group of artists who were intent on reviving narrative painting during a time dominated by Conceptualism, minimalism and Pop art. An essay fueled Ligare’s decision to base his style on narration by critic and painter Sidney Tillim titled “Notes on Narrative and History Painting,” which appeared in Artforum a year prior. Tillim had explained why narrative art was necessary, stating that “a didactic morality or its equivalent must similarly support and validate what comes down to a new — or renewed — effort to illustrate belief.”
Not only was Ligare inspired by the works of 17th-century painter Nicolas Poussin — a major figure in classical French Baroque art — but he also drew upon Greco-Roman classicism. Greek sculptor Polykleitos, mathematician Pythagoras, and Plato's philosophy and mythology helped shape his ideas of light, balance, symmetry, and harmony. His surroundings also inspired Ligare in Monterey County, California, where he is based — many of his paintings depict the California coast in the background.
Ligare has shown his works extensively, including in exhibitions at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, the Fresno Art Museum, the Frye Art Museum in Seattle and the Prince of Wales Institute of Architecture in London. His paintings are part of the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the Department of Drawings and Prints of the Uffizi in Florence, Italy.
Find authentic David Ligare paintings on 1stDibs.
Still Life with Polykleitian Head and Ancathus
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to ...
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Peach on Cloth
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2014
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Apple on Cloth
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2014
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Figs on Cloth
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to ...
Canvas, Oil
Landscape with an Owl (ATHENE NOCTUA) (Owl of Athena)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2024
Canvas, Oil
SOLIS (Sunlight)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2024
Canvas, Oil
Offering: Grapes & Fig
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
David Ligare (b. 1945) Contemporary American Painter "Offering: Grapes & Fig," 2023 Oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in. Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): Ligare / 2023
Canvas, Oil
Thrown Drapery (Redux) Study 1
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2004
Canvas, Oil
Candle and Flowers
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to ...
Canvas, Oil
SCIRE (To Know)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed with initial (at lower right): L
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Apples and Basket
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso)" D. Ligare / 2014
Canvas, Oil
ORDINE NATURAE (The Order of Nature)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2015
Canvas, Oil
PERMETTO (To Allow)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2024
Canvas, Oil
VIRTUS (Virtue)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on the back): D. Ligare / 2024
Canvas, Oil
DISCERE (To Learn)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2024
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Box
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on verso): David Ligare
Canvas, Oil
Remembering Plains no. 54
By Alyson Kinkade
Located in Loveland, CO
Remembering Plains no.54 by Alyson Kinkade 8" x 8" oil on linen ©2021 gallery wrapped, black sides The allure of the horizon of the Great Plains, where waves of colors meet sky. AB...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
$2,904
H 15.75 in W 39.38 in D 1.97 in
In My Heart, Contemporary Oil on Canvas Landscape Painting, Framed, 21st Century
By Sonja Brussen
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Sonja Brussen – In My Heart Oil on canvas 40 x 100 cm Framed in a white wooden frame Overall dimensions with frame: 42 x 102 cm Frame included in the price In My Heart is an orig...
Oil, Canvas
$3,000
H 38 in W 38 in D 2 in
Daybreak Japanese Maple (Framed 36 x 36 inch contemporary oil painting)
By Christine So
Located in Oakland, CA
This is a ‘dancing peacock Japanese maple’ (Acer Japonicum Aconitifolium) also known as ‘Maiku-jaku' in Japanese. Its massive leaves have nine points instead of 5. They can be as b...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$4,900
H 30 in W 32 in D 1.75 in
Trailing Pear - Lake Landscape Window Flowers Fruit Botanical Still Life, 2025
By Melanie Parke
Located in Kent, CT
In this contemporary painting in oil on canvas, a cheerful interior scene is bright and inviting with a still life arrangement of coral red flowers in a green glass bottle next to a ...
Canvas, Oil
$3,020
H 35.44 in W 51.19 in D 0.79 in
Water 11 September 14:32 - Modern Minimalistic Landscape Oil Painting, See View
By Robert Motelski
Located in Salzburg, AT
Robert Motelski's paintings are exceptional visions of nature, visions of space which surrounds us. They tell about being, fate and passing. They depend on the season of year, the ti...
Canvas, Oil
$8,500
H 48 in W 48 in D 1.5 in
"Rose" by Ming Ming - Pink & Green Floral Still-Life with Cool and Earth Tones
By Ming Ming
Located in Carmel, CA
Ming Ming Liang (Chinese, born 1964) "Rose" 2024 Oil Paint, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the bottom right of the painting. In "Rose", Ming Ming transforms a traditional ...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
Horse Candy no.2
By Alyson Kinkade
Located in Loveland, CO
Horse Candy no.2 by Alyson Kinkade 24x20" oil on linen Abstraction of the great plains and farms. ABOUT THE ARTIST: "Over the years my focus has transitioned more and more toward ...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
$6,621
H 39.38 in W 47.25 in D 1.97 in
Autumn - Contemporary Impressionistic Painting of a Landscape
By Frank Dekkers
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Frank Dekkers Autumn 100 x 120 cm (not framed) oil on canvas On the pictures we also show you the artist receiving the flowers on our opening of this exhibition september 3th 2023 in our gallery. On an other picture you see the artist talking with collectors who purchase one of his works and gallery owner René Renders talking with other visitors in front of the painting. We show these pictures to give you an idea of the size and sphere of the paintings. About the artist: Frank Dekkers, an outdoor painter, but not a "square painter" as we know him. His studio is located "everywhere", or at least outside where this artist is inspired by the landscape. A special way of summarizing leads in his paintings to a very strong and simplified image. These works invite you to walk into the landscape and to keep looking. A book has been published about Frank Dekkers, which is included when purchasing a painting...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Vast, Sunrise Colorado Plains
By Alyson Kinkade
Located in Loveland, CO
Vast, Sunrise Colorado Plains by Alyson Kinkade Abstract Landscape Oil on Linen 36x36" image 37x37" framed, black metal cradle style (see photos) ABOUT T...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
$987
H 11.82 in W 11.82 in D 0.79 in
Lilac Bouquet Oil Painting on Linen, Contemporary Still Life, Signed
By Gabriel Riesnert
Located in AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FR
Subject : Bouquet de Lilas (Title - FR) / In this unique work of oil painting, the artist, who is an adept of contemporary realism and fiction, enjoy painting Interiors spaces and st...
Canvas, Paint, Oil, Linen
$4,350
H 44 in W 58 in D 2 in
Water Earth Air III, Contemporary Acrylic on Canvas, 44x58 Inches
By Alyson Kinkade
Located in Loveland, CO
Water Earth Air III by Alyson Kinkade 44x58" acrylic on canvas, gallery wrapped *due to scale, custom packing and extra lead time is factored into shipping for this item. ABOUT THE...
Canvas, Oil
$99,000
H 78 in W 144 in D 2 in
"Feast" - Very Large Epic Figurative Expressionist Surrealist Abstract Scene
By Steven H. Rehfeld
Located in Carmel, CA
Steven H. Rehfeld (American, born 1954) "Feast" 2021 Oil paint, Canvas, Stretcher bars The artist signed the back of the painting. "Feast" by Steven H. Rehfeld emerges as a triumpha...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
NOVUM INCREMENTUM (New Growth)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (LR): L; on verso: D. Ligare/ 1988/2024
Canvas, Oil
Offering: Apples & Wheat
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
David Ligare (b. 1945) Contemporary American Painter 'Offering: Apples & Wheat,' 2023 Oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in. Signed (at lower right): L; (on back): D. Ligare/ 2023.
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Polykleitian Head and Candles (Idea)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2018
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Lilies
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso) D. Ligare / 2014.
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Figs and Rose
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to Classicist ideals: Truth, Bea...
Canvas, Oil
Bulk Order for Eugene Orloff
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to Classicist ideals: Truth, Bea...
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with White Roses in Pot
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to Classicist ideals: Truth, Bea...
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Figs and Egyptian Pot
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on the verso): D. Ligare / 2017 SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-fi...
Canvas, Oil
The Cane Gatherer (Qanu)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower left): L
Canvas, Oil
Three Grecian Women
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower left on stone): D. LIGARE. 1983
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Plums and Goldfinch (Aparchai)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Oil on canvas
Integritas
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Oil on canvas, 2015