Paul Kauvar Smith, born in Cape Girardeau, studied commercial art and design at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts from 1915–16 with a brief interruption during World War I. After the war, he returned to the School of Fine Arts and went on to study at the Washington University in St. Louis. In 1921, Smith moved to Colorado to study under John E. Thompson at the Denver Academy of Fine and Applied Arts. Thompson, who is considered to be the pioneer of modernism in Denver, was a strong influence on Smith. In 1923, Smith was hired by the Academy as an instructor. That same year, his work was accepted for the first time for display at the Denver Art Museum and he was also awarded two solo exhibitions. The museum later added his work to their Anne Evans collection. In 1959, the Denver Art Museum also reproduced one of his paintings titled Houses at Victor for their Western Heritage exhibition catalog. Smith became a permanent resident of Denver and was a member of the American Artists Professional League, as well as Colorado and Denver Art Guilds. He also joined a Denver group called The Colorado Fifteen. Fifteen came into existence in 1948 as an association of professional artists dedicated to the avant-garde. Smith died in Denver in 1977.
1950s Original Geometric Abstract Oil Painting by Paul K Smith, Mid Century Art
By Paul Kauvar Smith
Located in Denver, CO
This vibrant and dynamic abstract oil painting by American modernist Paul Kauvar Smith (1893–1977) exemplifies his bold use of color and modernist technique. Executed on board, the c...
Oil, Board
$5,750
Paul Kauvar Smith "Shovel Handles" 1953 Mid-Century Modernist Oil Painting
By Paul Kauvar Smith
Located in Denver, CO
Paul Kauvar Smith (American, 1893–1977) Shovel Handles, 1953 Oil on board Signed and dated lower margin, title inscribed verso Image: 24 × 18 inches Framed: 30 × 24 × 1½ inches A st...
Oil
$1,000
H 16 in W 21 in
Mid-Century Modern American Oil Painting Abstract Female artist black and white
By Anita Johnson
Located in Buffalo, NY
Anita Johnson Untitled (Monochrome Construct), c. 1960s Oil on illustration board Framed dimensions: 21 in. H × 16 in. W Presented in a contemporary black frame In this striking bla...
Oil, Illustration Board
$3,600
H 28 in W 21.5 in D 2 in
Untitled Abstract Geometric Painting, Oil on Paper, Framed, 1960s
By Ron Stonier
Located in Vancouver, CA
Ron Stonier (1933-2001) was a dedicated Vancouver artist celebrated for his exploration of abstract painting, influenced by his mentors Gordon Smith and Jack Shadbolt, as well as by ...
Paper, Oil, Board
$412
H 9.85 in W 7.88 in D 0.04 in
The Still Life - Oil Painting by Claude Decamps - 1970s
By Claude Decamps
Located in Roma, IT
The Still Life is a painting realized by Claude Decamps in the 1970s Oil painting on cardboard canvas. Hand-signed on the lower. Good conditions. Th...
Oil
$28,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 15 in W 18 in
"Harvard vs Yale" Charles Green Shaw, Football, Ivy League Sports, Abstract
By Charles Green Shaw
Located in New York, NY
Charles Green Shaw Harvard vs. Yale, 1944 Signed and dated on the reverse Oil on canvasboard 9 x 12 inches Provenance: Harvey and Francois Rambach, New Jersey Private Collection, California Washburn Gallery, New York D. Wigmore Fine Art, New York Private Collection, New York Charles Green Shaw, born into a wealthy New York family, began painting when he was in his mid-thirties. A 1914 graduate of Yale, Shaw also completed a year of architectural studies at Columbia University. During the 1920s Shaw enjoyed a successful career as a freelance writer for The New Yorker, Smart Set and Vanity Fair, chronicling the life of the theater and café society. In addition to penning insightful articles, Shaw was a poet, novelist and journalist. In 1927 he began to take a serious interest in art and attended Thomas Hart Benton's class at the Art Students League briefly in New York. He also studied privately with George Luks, who became a good friend. Once he had dedicated himself to non-traditional painting, Shaw's writing ability made him a potent defender of abstract art. After initial study with Benton and Luks, Shaw continued his artistic education in Paris by visiting numerous museums and galleries. From 1930 to 1932 Shaw's paintings evolved from a style imitative of Cubism to one directly inspired by it, though simplified and more purely geometric. Returning to the United States in 1933, Shaw began a series of abstracted cityscapes of skyscrapers he called Manhattan Motifs which evolved into his most famous works, the shaped canvases he called Plastic Polygons. The 1930s were productive years for Shaw. He showed his paintings in numerous group exhibitions, both in New York and abroad, and was also given several one-man exhibitions. Shaw had his first one-man exhibition at the Valentine Dudensing Gallery in New York in 1934, which included 25 Manhattan Motif paintings and 8 abstract works. In the spring of 1935 Shaw was introduced to Albert Gallatin and George L.K. Morris. Gallatin was so impressed with Shaw's work, he broke a policy against solo exhibitions at his museum, the Gallery of Living Art, and offered Shaw an exhibition there. In the summer of 1935 Shaw traveled to Paris with Gallatin and Morris who provided introductions to many great painters. Shaw regularly spent time with John Ferren and Jean Hélion. The following year Gallatin organized an exhibition called Five Contemporary American Concretionists at the Reinhardt Gallery that included Shaw, Ferren, and Morris, Alexander Calder, and Charles Biederman...
Oil, Board
$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
$45,000
H 40 in W 40 in
"Cattleya Orchids" Jane Peterson, Modernist Bright Flowers, Female Impressionist
By Jane Peterson
Located in New York, NY
Jane Peterson Cattleya Orchids, circa 1940s Signed lower right Oil on canvas 32 x 32 inches Provenance Estate of the artist Artist’s estate sale, Ipswich, Massachusetts, 1960s Priva...
Canvas, Oil
$2,600
H 18.25 in W 17.25 in
Still Life Oil Painting Betsy Podlach American Post Feminist Modernist Art
By Betsy Podlach
Located in Surfside, FL
Betsy Podlach (American, born 1964.) Still life with Tin Cup, 1996 17.5 X 16.5 inches. Framed it measures 18.25 X 17.25 Betsy Podlach graduated from Harvard, cum laude, (she studied...
Canvas, Oil
$1,500
H 24 in W 31.38 in D 0.25 in
Impasto Geometric Abstraction - Mixed Media in Encaustic and Oil Paint, Signed
Located in Soquel, CA
Impasto Geometric Abstraction - Mixed Media in Encaustic and Oil Paint, Signed Bold mixed media piece signed by Pat Ellis. This piece combines elements of geometric abstraction and ...
Fiberboard, Oil, Encaustic, Wax Crayon
Reversible Composition
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Reversible Composition, c. 1937, oil on composition board, signed verso in pencil, 12 x 15 / 15 x 12 inches, “#11” “22” and #104” annotated verso, label verso reads on one side: “Cha...
Oil, Board
$6,500
H 28 in W 32 in
"Antique Toys" Priscilla Roberts, Still Life, Realistic, Doll, Magical Realist
Located in New York, NY
Priscilla Roberts Antique Toys Signed lower left; identified through gallery label affixed to backing Oil on board 20 x 24 inches Provenance Grand Centra...
Oil, Board
$3,000
H 33.5 in W 27.5 in
Czech American Floral Oil Painting Jan De Ruth Vibrant Modernist Flowers in Vase
By Jan De Ruth
Located in Surfside, FL
Jan de Ruth (Czech/American, 1922-1991) Still Life of Flowers Oil on canvas, Hand signed lower right Verso bears gallery label from Harbor Gallery, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. Dimensi...
Oil, Canvas
$1,263Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.6 in W 13.27 in
1963 Signed Modern Still Life Oil Painting of Bouquet of Flowers
By Isis Kischka
Located in London, GB
'Bouquet of Flowers', oil on canvas, by the French artist Isis Kischka (1963). This work reflects a post-war French modernist sensibility, with a graphic treatment of form and restra...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 23 in W 29 in D 1 in
Colorado Mine, 1940s WPA Modern Mountain Landscape Oil Painting, 18 x 24 inches
By Paul Kauvar Smith
Located in Denver, CO
Colorado landscape with an old mine building, trestle, mountains and dark stormy sky, vintage circa 1940 oil painting on canvas by Denver modernist, Paul K. Smith. Painted in colors ...
Canvas, Oil
Untitled (Colorado Mountain Town)
By Paul Kauvar Smith
Located in Denver, CO
Original vintage circa 1950 mid-century modern painting by Denver artist, Paul K Smith (1893-1977) depicting rooftops and houses in a mining town in the C...
Oil, Board
Untitled (Colorado Chapel)
By Paul Kauvar Smith
Located in Denver, CO
Housed in a custom frame, outer dimensions measure 14 ½ x 18 ½ x 1 inches. Image size is 12 x 16 inches. Provenance: Estate of Paul K. Smith About the artist: Paul K Smith studied...
Sold
H 29.75 in W 23.75 in D 1.25 in
Untitled (Abstract Expressionist Composition)
By Paul Kauvar Smith
Located in Denver, CO
Abstract Expressionist oil painting by mid-century modern artist, Paul K Smith in hues of golden yellow coral, salmon pink, green, black and blue. Presen...
Canvas, Oil