"Though much of my work is generally classified as abstract, all of my work develops from natural forms. I have great respect for the forms of nature and an inherent need to express myself in relation to those forms. No matter how far my experimental design may take me … there remains always a core of objective reality which I have no desire to destroy or even to impair but only to investigate, analyze, develop." Louis Schanker was one of many members of the American Abstract Artists who chose to base his art in the objects, patterns, and rhythms of nature. Although never a student of Hans Hofmann, Schanker's ideas about art had many parallels with Hofmann's. Concern for the spatial dynamics of a painting's surface, and an insistence on some aspect of nature as a starting point for art, are two areas that mirror a shared philosophy between the two artists. Although much of Schanker's later work is completely abstract, during the 1930s and 1940s he frequently used direct, identifiable themes—motifs drawn from sports, his early years working for a circus, and even socially conscious subjects not normally employed by abstract artists. During the mid 1930s, Schanker began making prints and subsequently became a graphic arts supervisor for the WPA. He also completed murals for radio station WNYC, the Neponsit Beach Hospital in Long Island, and the Science and Health building at the 1939 New York World's Fair. During World War II, Schanker worked as a shipfitter and began teaching the technique of color woodblock printing at the New School for Social Research. In 1949, he became an assistant professor at Bard College, where he remained until his retirement. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Schanker exhibited frequently in group shows both in museums and in commercial galleries. He became especially well known for his innovations as a printmaker. Schanker belonged to The Ten, a group that exhibited together in protest against the hegemony of Americanscene painting in Whitney exhibitions and in support of artistic experimentation and an international (rather than nativist) outlook in art.
Louis SCHANKER “Jai Alai”
By Louis Schanker
Located in San Francisco, CA
Louis Schanker : 1903-1981. Well, listed American abstract artist. He was well exhibited and is in the permanent collections of many important museums. This fabulous piece is a color...
Woodcut
Abstract Composition
By Louis Schanker
Located in Wiscasett, ME
Tempura on heavy paper, signed and dated 1945 lower left. The piece measures 23" x 30" including the frame and presents very well overall. Provenance: Willard Gallery, NYC Brad...
Tempera, Watercolor
$3,500
POLO
By Louis Schanker
Located in Portland, ME
Schanker, Louis (American, 1903-1981). POLO. Woodcut, 1937. Edition of 30. Signed, titled, and numbered, all in pencil. Printed on Japan paper. 7 7/8 x 7 1/4 inches (image), framed t...
Woodcut
$18,475
Mid-Century Abstract Textural Composition in Oil on Canvas Painting
By Louis Schanker
Located in New York, NY
This captivating oil on canvas painting by noted American modernist Louis Schanker (1903–1981) showcases his signature abstract and textural style. Dating to circa 1946, the composit...
Oil
Louis Schanker 1946 Abstract
By Louis Schanker
Located in San Francisco, CA
Louis Schanker: 1903-1981. Well, listed American artist with Auction results as high as $2500 for a single colored woodcut. This fabulous abstract colored work measures 16 1/4 inches...
Woodcut
Early American modernist abstract sculpture - Totem
By Louis Schanker
Located in Colfax, CA
A rare sculpture by a fascinating American modernists, Louis Schanker. Shanker was born in New York City in 1903. At a young age he quit school, ran away from home and joined the ci...
Wood, Oil
Cows in a Field (Recto) Two Figures in an Interior (Verso)
By Louis Schanker
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Cows in a Field (Recto) Two Figures in an Interior (Verso) Watercolor on heavy textured paper, 1938 Signed in ink verso image of Two Figures, unsigned ...
Watercolor
GREEN AND BLACK
By Louis Schanker
Located in Portland, ME
Schanker, Louis (American, 1903-1981). GREEN & BLACK. Color Woodcut, 1941 Brooklyn Museum Booklet 53. Edition of 55 plus 20 trial Proofs. Signed, titled, and numbered 10/55 and inscr...
Woodcut
FIGURE NO. 1
By Louis Schanker
Located in Portland, ME
Schanker, Louis (American 1903-1981). FIGURE NO.1. Johnson 99. Wood etching in colors, 1949. Edition of 6. Titled and signed in pencil. 25 1/2 X 13 3/8 inches (image). Framed to 33...
Woodcut
CARNIVAL
By Louis Schanker
Located in Portland, ME
Schanker, Louis CARNIVAL. Color woodcut, 1948. Edition of 30. Signed, titled and numbered 24/30 in pencil. 14 1/4 x 21 inches (image), 18 x 24 inches (sheet). Hinging residue, verso,...
Woodcut
MUSICAL CLOWNS
By Louis Schanker
Located in Portland, ME
Schanker, Louis (American, 1903-1981). MUSICAL CLOWNS, Color Woodcut, 1937 Brooklyn Museum Booklet 31. From the Second Edition Edition of 21 (The first edition was 30, plus 12 Trial ...
Woodcut
Interior Scene with Figures
By Louis Schanker
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Interior Scene with Figures Ink and watercolor on paper, c. 1930's Signed with the Estate stamp lower center Condition: Loss upper right corner; two small tears lower margin ...
Watercolor
GIRL WITH LUTE
By Louis Schanker
Located in Portland, ME
Schanker, Louis (American 1903-1981). GIRL WITH LUTE. Johnson 18. Linocut in colors, 1938. Edition of 10. Titled, numbered 6/10 and signed in pencil. 5 1/2 x...
Linocut
CIRCLE IMAGE NO. 25
By Louis Schanker
Located in Portland, ME
Schanker, Louis. CIRCLE IMAGE NO. 25. Relief Print in color, 1954-1955. Edition of 210 published by IGAS. Signed and numbered 17/200 (the edition included 10 artist's proofs). 14 x 1...
Woodcut
Basement Systems
By Kory Twaddle
Located in Kansas City, MO
Artist : Kory Twaddle Title : Basement Systems Materials : Acrylic, tempera, gouache, and glitter glue on cardboard drawing pad back Date : 2019 Dimensions : 18 x 12 x .2 in. Kory ...
Paint, Paper, Conté, Charcoal, India Ink, Acrylic, Tempera, Watercolor, ...
Untitled I
By Thomas Nozkowski
Located in New York, NY
For over thirty years, Nozkowski has practiced his own form of idiosyncratic abstraction, foregoing a signature style or subject matter in favor of seemingly limitless variations in ...
Color, Linocut, Woodcut
$375,000
H 97 in W 12.375 in D 12.375 in
Untitled: (Totem Pole) - Abstract Sculpture, c. 1960
By Elaine de Kooning
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A major figure in both the Abstract Expressionist and American Figurative Expressionist movements of the 1940s and 1950s, Elaine de Kooning's prolific output defied singular categorization. Her versatile styles explored the spectrum of realism to abstraction, resulting in a career characterized by intense expression and artistic boundary-pushing. A striking example of de Kooning's explosive creativity is Untitled (Totem Pole...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
CIRCLE IMAGE NO. 25
By Louis Schanker
Located in Portland, ME
Schanker, Louis. CIRCLE IMAGE NO. 25. Relief Print in color, 1954-1955. Edition of 210 published by IGAS. Signed and numbered 17/200 (the edition included 10 artist's proofs). 14 x 1...
Woodcut
$170
H 11.03 in W 15.36 in
Japanese Print, Pair of horses playing (red) - Signed Woodcut
By Mokuchu URUSHIBARA
Located in Paris, IDF
Mokuchu URUSHIBARA Pair of horses playing (red), c. 1930 Woodcut after on an ink drawing Signed with the artist's stamp On paper 28 x 39 cm (c. 11.02 x 15.35 in) INFORMATION : Engr...
Woodcut
$5,700
H 35 in W 15 in D 10 in
Parade - Contemporary Metal Red, Black, White Abstract Free Standing Sculpture
By Granville Beals
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by dance and weightlessness, Granville Beals' industrial metal sculptures are primarily about relationships. Concerned with form and abstraction, he does not merely manipula...
Metal, Steel
Japanese Print, White-billed Pie - Signed Woodcut
By Mokuchu URUSHIBARA
Located in Paris, IDF
Mokuchu URUSHIBARA White-billed Pie, c. 1930 Woodcut after on an ink drawing Signed with the artist's stamp On paper 32 x 26.5 cm (c. 12.59 x 10.23 in) INFORMATION : Engraving pub...
Woodcut
$182Sale Price|36% Off
H 8.27 in W 8.27 in
Colored Waves - Original handsigned watercolor and tempera
By Ervin Neuhaus
Located in Paris, IDF
Ervin NEUHAUS Colored Waves Original watercolor and tempera on heavy paper Handsigned bottom right Authenticated with the stamp of the Estate sale on the back 21 x 21 cm (c. 8 x 8 ...
Tempera, Watercolor
Fire - Original handsigned watercolor and tempera
By Ervin Neuhaus
Located in Paris, IDF
Ervin NEUHAUS Fire Original watercolor and tempera on heavy paper Handsigned bottom right Authenticated with the stamp of the Estate sale on the back 21 x 21 cm (c. 8 x 8 inch) Ex...
Tempera, Watercolor
First Floor Biogram
By Kory Twaddle
Located in Kansas City, MO
Title : First Floor Biogram Materials : Acrylic, gouache, oil pastel, marker, charcoal, graphite, and conté crayon on paper Date : 2018 Dimensions : 24 x 18 x .1 in. Description : ...
Paint, Paper, Acrylic, Tempera, Watercolor, Graphite, Conté, Oil Pastel,...
$15,958
H 3.94 in W 5.91 in D 0.04 in
Abstract Composition - Drawing by Mark Tobey - 1960
By Mark Tobey
Located in Roma, IT
Abstract composition is a fine and beautiful watercolor and tempera on paper realized by Mark Tobey in 1960. Signed and dated Tobey lower right. Certificate of authenticity by Mark ...
Tempera, Watercolor
$2,430
H 19.625 in W 24.25 in
"Palepai, " Original Woodcut Abstract Landscape Elephants, signed Carol Summers
By Carol Summers
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Palepai" is an original color woodcut by Carol Summers. The artist signed the piece in the lower right and wrote the title and the edition number lower left. Palepai are weavings fr...
Woodcut
'Pair of Mallard Ducks' — Japanese Woodblock kachō-ga
By Ohara Koson
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Ohara Koson, 'Pair of Mallard Ducks', color woodblock, c. 1920s. Signed 'Koson' in black ink with the artist’s red seal beneath, lower right. A superb, skillfully-inked impression, w...
Woodcut
$3,700
H 30 in W 30 in D 1.5 in
Mnemonic Rhythm (Bright, Multicolored Textile Inspired Abstract Wall Sculpture)
By Susan Stover
Located in Hudson, NY
Mnemonic Rhythm (Bright, Multicolored Textile Inspired Abstract Wall Sculpture), made by Susan Stover in 2025 wood, oil paint, varnish, waxed linen thread 30 x 30 inches Lightweight,...
Thread, Wood, Oil, Acrylic, Cardboard
$2,200
H 12 in W 8 in D 5 in
Wall Relief 3 - Oil Paint and Resin on Wood - Modern Abstract - Multicolored
By Ned Evans
Located in New York, NY
This contemporary, mixed media Wall Relief by Ned Evans features multicolored oil paint and resin on wood. Its modern design turns your guest ...
Resin, Wood, Paint, Oil
CYCLONE, CONEY ISLAND ca 1933
By Louis Schanker
Located in Santa Monica, CA
LOUIS SCHANKER (1903 – 1981) CYCLONE, CONEY ISLAND ca 1933 Lithograph 10 7/8 x 12 ½” signed, and with no. 1/10. Rare thus! Annotation: Coney Island. ...
Lithograph