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Wifredo Lam Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Cuban, 1902-1982

Wifredo Lam was an Afro-Cuban artist best known for his unique Surrealist aesthetic that combined European artistic movements with the imagery of his native country. 

“I responded always to the presence of factors that emanated from our history and our geography, tropical flowers, and black culture,” Lam once said. 

In one of his most famous paintings, The Jungle (1943), these various influences are melded together, onto a single large-scale canvas. Born Wifredo Oscar de la Concepción Lam y Castilla on December 8, 1902 in Sagua la Grande, Cuba, the painter moved to Madrid, Spain in 1923 to study with Fernando Álvarez de Sotomayor, who had been the teacher of famed Surrealist Salvador Dalí.

Lam moved to Paris after seeing an exhibition of Pablo Picasso’s work in Spain. Having arrived in the French capital, he introduced himself to Picasso who subsequently showed Lam his collection of African and Oceanic artworks. The two artists' interaction figured heavily in Lam’s work throughout the remainder of his career. He died on September 11, 1982 in Paris, France at the age of 79. 

Today, the artist’s works are held in the collections of the Tate Gallery in London, the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., among others.

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(Biography provided by Gallery Art)

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Artist: Wifredo Lam
Fresh Sketch - Red Ink Drawing by Wifredo Lam - 1970
By Wifredo Lam
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful fresh sketch in red ink on an ivory-colored paper, with an autograph dedication "Per Pino Fasio amicia Pittore Wifredo Lam Albissola 1970" . Dated and signed in red ink. V...
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1970s Surrealist Wifredo Lam Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

Femme Cheval
By Wifredo Lam
Located in Miami, FL
Wifredo Lam “Femme Cheval” 1971 Pastel on paper 24 x 18 in Signed and dated at the bottom left corner Provenance: Gallerry Dobbelhoef, Kessel. Private Collection, Brussel. Campo and...
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Late 20th Century Modern Wifredo Lam Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Laid Paper

Untitled
By Wifredo Lam
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Wifredo Lam, Cuban (1902 - 1982) Title: Untitled - I Year: 1957 Medium: Crayon and Pastel on Paper, signed and dated l.r. Paper Size: 22 in. x 26.5 in. (55.88 cm x 67.31...
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1950s Surrealist Wifredo Lam Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Crayon, Pastel

Wifredo Lam (1902 - 1982) - Untitled - Aquatint etching on Arches paper - 1979
By Wifredo Lam
Located in Varese, IT
Aquatint etching on Arches paper, edited in 1979 limited edition in 99 exemplars in cardinal numbers Current exemplar as: HC Hand signed by Wifredo Lam in pencil in the lower right m...
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1970s Abstract Wifredo Lam Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Etching

Untitled
By Wifredo Lam
Located in Miami, FL
Wifredo Lam “Untitled” 1970 Ink on paper 19 x 26 in Signed by the artist at the right bottom corner. Certificate of Authenticity by Eskil Lam, Lam Foundation, Paris. Wifredo Lam wa...
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20th Century Surrealist Wifredo Lam Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink

Untitled - Drawing by Wifredo Lam - Ink and Pencil - 1941
By Wifredo Lam
Located in Roma, IT
This extraordinary and rare drawing by Wifredo Lam is one of the artworks that the artist took with him when he moved from Cuba to France. In Paris, Lam showed Picasso his drawings a...
Category

1940s Surrealist Wifredo Lam Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink, Pencil

Untitled - Drawing by Wifredo Lam - 1941
By Wifredo Lam
Located in Roma, IT
This extraordinary and rare drawing by Wifredo Lam is one of the artworks that the artist took with him when he moved from Cuba to France. In Paris, Lam showed Picasso his drawings a...
Category

1940s Modern Wifredo Lam Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink, Pencil

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Wifredo Lam drawings and watercolor paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Wifredo Lam drawings and watercolor paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of drawings and watercolor paintings to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of orange and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Wifredo Lam in ink, paper, pencil and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Surrealist style. Not every interior allows for large Wifredo Lam drawings and watercolor paintings, so small editions measuring 7 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Federico Castellon, Wu Jian'an, and Mary Spain. Wifredo Lam drawings and watercolor paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,119 and tops out at $150,000, while the average work can sell for $35,650.
Questions About Wifredo Lam Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 15, 2024
    Yes, Wifredo Lam was a Surrealist. After meeting André Breton, the author of the Surrealist Manifesto, the Cuban artist became highly involved with the Surrealist movement. He was also a member of the movement Négritude. Lam’s style resulted from his extensive travels, featuring graffiti-like flourishes with clear Cubist influences in a Surrealist mood. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Wifredo Lam art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Cuban artist Wilfredo Lam was a painter who often worked on large-scale paintings. Using a modern approach and Afro-Cuban imagery, he tackled common themes of social injustice and spirituality. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.

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