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
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
$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 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
$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
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
$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
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
$4,850
H 48 in W 36 in D 1 in
Dogged - 21st Century, Contemporary, Neo Expressionism, Acrylic, Enamel, Love
By Dennis Onofua
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Enamel
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
Never Forget How Beautiful You Are
By David Shrigley
Located in London, GB
2025 Unique work on paper Acrylic paint on paper 76 x 56 cm Mint condition, housing in the original packaging David Shrigley (born 1968) is a celebrated British visual artist. His w...
Paper, Acrylic
$720
H 28 in W 20 in
Brutalist Architecture Painting of Industrial Building, Flamingo Pink Sky, Paper
Located in Barcelona, ES
This beautiful painting by Nacho Reina is a formidable example of the interplay between form and color forms as the central axis of his work, where he starts from architectural shape...
Paper, Acrylic, Color Pencil
$755
H 25 in W 19 in
Rodeo Rouge - Abstract Figurative Cowgirl Pinup Portrait Painting on Paper Map
By Jesse Black
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jesse’s imagery often merges playful and gritty elements, blending floral patterns, vintage-inspired designs, and bold outlines with a touch of whimsy. His artwork exudes a sense of ...
Paint, Paper, Acrylic
$4,827
H 19.69 in W 39.38 in
Furstemberg 2 by Guillaume Chansarel - Urban landscape painting, Paris cityscape
By Guillaume Chansarel (Guiyome)
Located in Paris, FR
Furstemberg 2 is a unique painting by French contemporary artist Guillaume Chansarel. The painting is made with Ink and acrylic on old book pages mounted on canvas, dimensions are 50...
Canvas, Ink, Acrylic, Magazine Paper
Warm in the Sun
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
$465
H 8.67 in W 10.24 in
In embrace. Figurative Painting on Paper, Young art, Vibrant, European art
By Waleria Matelska
Located in Warsaw, PL
Figurative acrylic on paper painting by young professional European artist Waleria Matelska. Artwork is minimalist and composed with synthesized shapes. Painting is vibrant purple wi...
Paper, 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
$1,225
H 36 in W 26 in
The Long Way West - Abstract Figurative Cowboy and Horse Painting on Paper Map
By Jesse Black
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jesse’s imagery often merges playful and gritty elements, blending floral patterns, vintage-inspired designs, and bold outlines with a touch of whimsy. His artwork exudes a sense of ...
Paint, Paper, Acrylic
$295
H 12 in W 9 in
Open Range - Original Abstract Figurative Cowboy and Horse Painting on Paper
By Jesse Black
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jesse’s imagery often merges playful and gritty elements, blending floral patterns, vintage-inspired designs, and bold outlines with a touch of whimsy. His artwork exudes a sense of ...
Paint, Paper, Acrylic
$180
H 3 in W 4 in
"The Delivery" Figures in City Scene in Miniature Painting by Tom Haugomat
By Tom Haugomat
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"The Delivery" is an original painting by Tom Haugomat, made as part of his traveling artist residency with The Jaunt. Traveling from France to Philadelphia, Haugomat was inspired by...
Paper, Acrylic
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