Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
American, 1913-1980
Philip Guston (1913–1980) was an influential American artist whose career evolved from social realism to abstract expressionism and finally to a unique form of figurative painting. Born in Montreal, Canada, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, Guston grew up in Los Angeles, where he was introduced to art and politics at a young age. His early years were marked by personal tragedy, including his father’s suicide, an event that profoundly influenced his later work.
In the 1930s, Guston began his artistic career as a muralist under the Federal Art Project, inspired by the social realism of Mexican muralists like Diego Rivera. During this time, his work conveyed strong political and social messages, reflecting the struggles of the working class and the political tensions of the era. By the 1940s, Guston moved to New York, where he became associated with the burgeoning Abstract Expressionist movement alongside artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. His abstract works from this period were characterized by lush, painterly surfaces and a focus on emotional resonance.
Despite his success as an Abstract Expressionist, Guston grew increasingly dissatisfied with abstraction’s limitations in addressing personal and societal concerns. In the late 1960s, he made a dramatic shift back to representational imagery, a move that shocked the art world. His later works incorporated cartoonish, symbolic figures—hooded Ku Klux Klan-like characters, shoes, lightbulbs, and disembodied heads—depicting themes of existential angst, political corruption, and personal reflection. These provocative images, such as in The Studio (1969), addressed racism, violence, and the complexities of human identity with biting humour and raw emotion.
Critics initially derided Guston’s return to figuration, but his bold departure from abstraction ultimately cemented his legacy as a pioneering figure who challenged conventions and explored deeply personal and political themes. His work resonates with an unflinching honesty and continues to influence contemporary artists grappling with societal issues and the human condition.
Guston died in 1980, leaving behind a body of work that defies categorization yet remains profoundly impactful. Today, he is celebrated as an artist who pushed boundaries and redefined what painting could be, inspiring generations with his fearless creativity and commitment to authenticity.to
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Artist: Philip Guston
Elements
By Philip Guston
Located in San Francisco, CA
Philip Guston was born in 1913 in Montreal, Canada. He began painting at the age of 12, and in 1927 he enrolled in the Los Angeles Manual Arts High School , where both he and Jackson...
Category
1970s Modern Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Lithograph
$17,500
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Philip Guston drawings and watercolor paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Philip Guston drawings and watercolor paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Philip Guston in lithograph and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 1970s and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Philip Guston drawings and watercolor paintings, so small editions measuring 43 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Reuben Nakian, Gershon Benjamin, and Wes Olmsted. Philip Guston drawings and watercolor paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $17,500 and tops out at $17,500, while the average work can sell for $17,500.
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Questions About Philip Guston Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes. Philip Guston, a Canadian American artist, is considered a contemporary artist. Contemporary art is generally defined as art produced during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Guston, who lived from 1913 to 1980, was a founding artist of the mid-century New York School movement and later helped pioneer the neo-expressionism movement. Shop a collection of Philip Guston art from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Philip Guston is associated with two art movements. At the start of his career, his work reflected the characteristics of Social Realism, but he later shifted his focus to produce pieces that better fit the definition of Abstract Expressionism. You'll find a selection of Philip Guston art on 1stDibs.