A forerunner of the post-painterly abstraction movement, contemporary artist Gary Komarin approaches each composition with a pure openness to inspiration. With every brushstroke, he builds a visual interpretation of his mindset in that moment, never knowing what he's going to paint next. Komarin asserts that, for him, "the best paintings are the paintings that paint themselves."
Komarin invites risk into his abstract work, and employs daring in every element of his pieces. From his adventurous deployment of spackle and house paint as mediums to his playful use of color and imperfect lines, he pulls forms from a backdrop of consciousness, rather than merely delivering images to a surface. He enjoys instilling a child's sense of wonder into his abstractions and still-lifes, invoking a toddler's experience of "seeing things without knowing what they are."
Born in New York City, Komarin is the son of a Czech architect and Austrian author. He attended art school at Boston University, where painter Phillip Guston became a mentor. Much of Komarin's work nods to Guston, without mimicking or replicating the latter’s signature cartoonish style.
Komarin has exhibited in the United States, Asia, the United Kingdom and throughout continental Europe. In 1996, his work was included in an exhibition at 41 Green Street in New York. He has received numerous awards, including the New York Foundation for the Arts grant in painting, the Joan Mitchell Prize in Painting and the Edward Albee Foundation Fellowship. Komarin lives in rural Connecticut, where he continues to create new work.
Find original Gary Komarin paintings, drawings and mixed media works on 1stDibs.
$16,100
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake, 2023 Acrylic on paper 35 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin finds room in contem...
Paper, Acrylic
Cake Stacked, Galisteo
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake Stacked, Galisteo, 2025 Signed by the artist Enamel paint on wood panel 127 x 61 50 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, ...
Enamel
$16,100
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake, 2023 Acrylic on paper 35 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin finds room in contem...
Paper, Acrylic
Stacked Cake: Black on Pale Pink and Grey
By Gary Komarin
Located in Fairfield, CT
Unique; water-based enamel paint on paper bags
Enamel
Orange Cake Stacked on White
By Gary Komarin
Located in Fairfield, CT
Unique; Water-based enamel paint on paper stacks
Enamel
$25,300
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake, 2023 Acrylic on wood panel 50 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin finds room in c...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
$25,300
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake, 2023 Acrylic on wood panel 50 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin finds room in c...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
$25,300
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake , 2023 Acrylic on wood panel 127 x 61 cm 50 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin fi...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
Cake Stacked, Barcelona
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake Stacked, Barcelona, 2025 Signed by the artist Enamel paint on wood panel 127 x 61 50 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths,...
Enamel
$25,300
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake, 2023 Acrylic on wood panel 50 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin finds room in c...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
Small Canvas
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Small Canvas, 2024 Oil on canvas 35.6 x 27.9 cm 14 x 11 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin ...
Canvas, Oil
$16,100
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake, 2023 Acrylic on paper 35 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin finds room in contem...
Paper, Acrylic
$25,300
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake, 2023 Acrylic on wood panel 50 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin finds room in c...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
$25,300
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake, 2023 Acrylic on wood panel 50 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin finds room in c...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
$25,300
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake, 2023 Acrylic on wood panel 50 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin finds room in c...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
$25,300
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake , 2023 Acrylic on wood panel 127 x 61 cm 50 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin fi...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
$25,300
Cake
By Gary Komarin
Located in London, GB
Gary Komarin Cake, 2023 Acrylic on wood panel 50 x 24 inches Eschewing traditional materials in favor of tarps and drop cloths, spackle and house paint, Gary Komarin finds room in c...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
Red Cake Stacked on White
By Gary Komarin
Located in Fairfield, CT
Unique; Water-based enamel paint on paper stacks
Enamel
Cake Stacked: White on Turquoise
By Gary Komarin
Located in Fairfield, CT
Unique; Water-based enamel paint on paper stacks
Enamel
Cake Stacked: Bright Pink on White
By Gary Komarin
Located in Fairfield, CT
Unique; Water-based enamel paint on paper stacks
Enamel
Mixed Media Painting by Gary Komarin 'The French Wig (white)'
By Gary Komarin
Located in White Plains, NY
'The French Wig (white)' 2015 by American artist, Gary Komarin. Mixed media on canvas, 14 x 11 in. Wigs are among Komarin’s most recognizable idiosyncratic images. This faux naive wo...
Canvas, Mixed Media
Mixed Media Painting by Gary Komarin 'The French Wig (blue)'
By Gary Komarin
Located in White Plains, NY
'The French Wig (blue)' 2016 by American artist, Gary Komarin. Mixed media on canvas, 14 x 11 in. Wigs are among Komarin’s most recognizable idiosyncratic images. This faux naive wor...
Canvas, Mixed Media
$3,750
H 27.55 in W 27.55 in D 15.74 in
Alek Gerber, Couple with Flowers, coffer work, Acrylic on wood, Valentines
By Alek Gerber
Located in Tel Aviv, IL
Alek Gerber, Couple with a bunch of flowers, 3D, mixed media, wood box, coffer, acrylic on wood, Israeli art, contemporaray art, art
Acrylic, Wood Panel, Dye Transfer
$8,500
H 30 in W 24 in D 2 in
Boy with Calendula, Surreal figurative painting, boy with flowers, green
By Anne Siems
Located in Dallas, TX
"Boy with Calendula" by Anne Siems, is a captivating figurative-narrative painting featuring a young child and a rabbit, with an 18th century feel. He is floating and surrounded by s...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
Hummingbird (260306)
By Gwen Wong
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gwen Wong's work is both painterly and allegorical, caught somewhere in the middle between the representational painter and the narrator. "I am inspired by the idea of a childhood re...
Gold Leaf
Of Wonder
By Gwen Wong
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gwen Wong's work is both painterly and allegorical, caught somewhere in the middle between the representational painter and the narrator. "I am inspired by the idea of a childhood re...
Gold Leaf
$1,301
H 18.9 in W 14.18 in D 0.2 in
French School Post Synthetic 95 Evanescence Chut les Barbizons! Signed
Located in Zofingen, AG
Portrait PS 95 Evanescence Technique: oil, acrylics and ink on thick paper (430g) 48x36cm ■■ 18.9x14.2 in ⏩》-------------------SHIPPING -----FLAT----------------《⏪ 🟢 → Original ...
Paper, Oil, Acrylic
$5,976
H 24.02 in W 19.69 in
Serene by Chen Yi Ching - Contemporary Nihonga Painting, Berry Tree
By Chen Yi Ching
Located in Paris, FR
Serene is a unique painting by contemporary artist Chen Yi Ching. The painting is made with mineral pigments and silver leaf on Japanese paper mounted on wood, dimensions are 61 × 50...
Silver
$1,301
H 18.9 in W 14.18 in D 0.2 in
French School Post Synthetic 102 Esc Soulas Chut les Barbizons!
Located in Zofingen, AG
Portrait PS 102 Esc Soulas Technique: oil, acrylics and ink on thick paper (430g) 48x36cm ■■ 18.9x14.2 in ⏩》-------------------SHIPPING -----FLAT----------------《⏪ 🟢 → Original s...
Paper, Oil, Acrylic
$1,301
H 18.9 in W 14.18 in D 0.2 in
French School Post Synthetic 108 Inibiti spectrum Chut les Barbizons!
Located in Zofingen, AG
Portrait PS 108 Inibiti spectrum Technique: oil, acrylics and ink on thick paper (430g) 48x36cm ■■ 18.9x14.2 in ⏩》-------------------SHIPPING -----FLAT----------------《⏪ 🟢 → Ori...
Paper, Oil, Acrylic
Hummingbird (260308)
By Gwen Wong
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gwen Wong's work is both painterly and allegorical, caught somewhere in the middle between the representational painter and the narrator. "I am inspired by the idea of a childhood re...
Gold Leaf
Hummingbird (260303)
By Gwen Wong
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gwen Wong's work is both painterly and allegorical, caught somewhere in the middle between the representational painter and the narrator. "I am inspired by the idea of a childhood re...
Gold Leaf
$911
H 16.15 in W 11.82 in
Untitled 20 - Series 2019, Contemporary Abstract Painting, Textile Lightness
By Tomasz Prymon
Located in Hallein, AT
About Prymon’s Exhibition Dopaminum and his paintings: ”Dopaminum” - Tomasz Prymon Dopamine – colloquially referred to as the hormone of love and happiness. Why is this organic che...
Acrylic, Handmade Paper
$2,250
H 23.5 in W 21 in
"Evening Before Haircut--Self-Portrait, " Acrylic and Enamel by Reginald K. Gee
By Reginald K. Gee
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Evening Before Haircut--Self-Portrait" is an original acrylic and enamel painting on paper by Reginald K. Gee. The artist signed the piece lower right. It depicts the artist in blac...
Enamel
Cake Stacked: Blue on White
By Gary Komarin
Located in Fairfield, CT
Unique; Water-based enamel paint on paper stacks
Enamel
Cake Stacked: Blue on Yellow
By Gary Komarin
Located in Fairfield, CT
Unique; Water-based enamel paint on paper stacks
Enamel