Paintings — Collection Gerard Valkier : A lifetime journey with Art.
Afro Basaldella was an Italian abstractionist painter, a representative of lyrical abstraction, better known as Afro.
Afro's father and uncle were decorators, his two older brothers became sculptors, and to avoid confusion with surnames, the artist began signing his works with his first name only. Bazaldella trained in Florence, Venice and Rome. Shortly after graduation, his first monographic exhibition was held in Milan.
From 1935, Afro exhibited regularly at the Quadrennale in Rome and the Biennale in Venice. He made frescoes, notably for the Udine Opera House, and mosaics, and tried his hand at painting in a variety of directions. In 1941 he became a lecturer in mosaic painting at the Venice Academy of Fine Arts, and in 1950 he caused a sensation in the United States, and by the mid-1950s Afro's art was world famous.
Afro interpreted the Italian tradition in a modern abstract form that resulted from his painterly studies of color harmony.
Robert Motherwell was an American artist and painter, renowned for his significant contributions to the Abstract Expressionism movement. Born in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1915, Motherwell's work is celebrated for its expressive use of form and color, which he utilized to convey deep emotional and philosophical themes. His approach to art was both intellectual and deeply personal, making him a pivotal figure in 20th-century art.
Motherwell's dedication to exploring the relationship between philosophy, literature, and visual art set him apart from his contemporaries. He was not just an artist but also an articulate spokesman for the Abstract Expressionist movement, emphasizing the importance of spontaneity and the expression of the subconscious. His series "Elegies to the Spanish Republic" is among his most famous works, exemplifying his skill in using black and white to evoke powerful emotions and reflections on human tragedy and resilience.
His art is held in high esteem worldwide, with pieces displayed in major museums and galleries, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Tate Modern in London. Motherwell's ability to blend abstract elements with profound thematic content has made his work enduringly relevant to both collectors and scholars in the fields of art and antiques.
For those keen on delving deeper into the world of modern art and Abstract Expressionism, Robert Motherwell's oeuvre offers a rich vein of exploration. His works not only encapsulate the dynamism and innovation of mid-20th-century American art but also provide insight into the intellectual and emotional depths from which they sprang. To stay informed about new sales and auction events related to Robert Motherwell, sign up for our updates. This subscription is a gateway to the vibrant and evolving market of art collecting, ensuring you never miss an opportunity to engage with the legacy of this monumental artist.
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Samuel Lewis Francis, an American painter and printmaker, was known for his pivotal role in postwar American painting and his contributions to the Abstract Expressionism and Color Field painting movements. Born in San Mateo, California, Francis' early life was marked by a deep personal loss and a significant injury during his service in the Army Air Corps, which led him to pursue painting while recovering in a hospital. His work, characterized by splashes of bright contrasting colors against expansive white canvases, drew international acclaim, particularly in Europe and Japan, underscoring his influence on the global art scene.
Francis' art evolved through various phases, from monochromatic works to vibrant, large-scale pieces, and was deeply influenced by his time in Paris and Japan, reflecting elements of Tachisme and possibly Zen Buddhism. Notable for creating large murals and his "Edge" series, Francis also founded The Lapis Press, further contributing to the art community by producing visually compelling texts. Despite facing health challenges towards the end of his life, he remained prolific, leaving behind a legacy celebrated through the Sam Francis Foundation, which aims to perpetuate his creative legacy.
Francis' artworks are held in prestigious collections worldwide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Centre Pompidou-Musee National d'Art Moderne, Paris, highlighting his enduring influence on contemporary art. His auction records and continued recognition in solo exhibitions posthumously underscore the lasting impact of his work on both collectors and the art community.
For those passionate about modern art and its history, staying informed about Samuel Lewis Francis' contributions and the ongoing exhibitions of his works can be enriching. Sign up for updates related to Francis to ensure you don't miss out on new sales and auction events showcasing his vibrant legacy.
Samuel Lewis Francis, an American painter and printmaker, was known for his pivotal role in postwar American painting and his contributions to the Abstract Expressionism and Color Field painting movements. Born in San Mateo, California, Francis' early life was marked by a deep personal loss and a significant injury during his service in the Army Air Corps, which led him to pursue painting while recovering in a hospital. His work, characterized by splashes of bright contrasting colors against expansive white canvases, drew international acclaim, particularly in Europe and Japan, underscoring his influence on the global art scene.
Francis' art evolved through various phases, from monochromatic works to vibrant, large-scale pieces, and was deeply influenced by his time in Paris and Japan, reflecting elements of Tachisme and possibly Zen Buddhism. Notable for creating large murals and his "Edge" series, Francis also founded The Lapis Press, further contributing to the art community by producing visually compelling texts. Despite facing health challenges towards the end of his life, he remained prolific, leaving behind a legacy celebrated through the Sam Francis Foundation, which aims to perpetuate his creative legacy.
Francis' artworks are held in prestigious collections worldwide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Centre Pompidou-Musee National d'Art Moderne, Paris, highlighting his enduring influence on contemporary art. His auction records and continued recognition in solo exhibitions posthumously underscore the lasting impact of his work on both collectors and the art community.
For those passionate about modern art and its history, staying informed about Samuel Lewis Francis' contributions and the ongoing exhibitions of his works can be enriching. Sign up for updates related to Francis to ensure you don't miss out on new sales and auction events showcasing his vibrant legacy.
Paolo Scheggi is an Italian constructivist artist, designer and architect.
Scheggi was educated in Florence at the Academy of Fine Arts, initially studying Art Informel and New Dadaism techniques, but quickly developed his own style. He worked with Lucio Fontana and joined the New Trends movement in 1965.
Scheggi became best known for his layered monochromatic works. He was involved in journalism and poetry and worked on architectural urban projects. Scheggi also designed a new Milan fashion house for the famous designer Germana Marucelli.
Gotthard Graubner was a German abstract painter associated with the post-war Zero and Informel movements. Graubner's work is known for its focus on color and its relationship to space and perception.
Graubner studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under the painter Georg Meistermann. In the 1950s, he became associated with the Zero group, a movement of artists who sought to create a new art form that was free of traditional artistic conventions and focused on the use of unconventional materials.
In the 1960s, Graubner began creating his signature "color-space bodies," large canvases that were mounted away from the wall and filled with thick layers of pigment. These works were designed to be experienced as three-dimensional objects that were both paintings and sculptures, and they often created a sense of depth and spatial ambiguity.
Graubner's work was exhibited widely in Europe and the United States, and he was the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He also taught at several art schools, including the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf and the Städelschule in Frankfurt.
Graubner's innovative approach to painting and his exploration of the relationship between color, space, and perception continue to be an important influence on contemporary art.
Piero Manzoni was an Italian artist. He was a leading figure in the Italian avant-garde movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and is best known for his conceptual and performance artworks.
Manzoni's works often involved the use of unconventional materials, such as his famous series of "Artist's Shit" cans, which were filled with his own excrement and sealed with a label that declared "Artist's Shit". He also created works using cotton balls, balloons, and even human hair.
One of Manzoni's most famous performances was "Living Sculptures," in which he covered himself in gold paint and posed as a living statue in a gallery. He also created a "Base of the World," a pedestal labeled with that phrase, and invited people to stand on it, thereby declaring themselves the center of the world.
Manzoni's works challenged traditional notions of art and pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable as artistic expression.
Enrico Castellani was an Italian artist. He was active in Italy from the early 1960s, and associated with Piero Manzoni and Vincenzo Agnetti. Castellani is known for his "paintings of light". He studied at the Ecole Nationale Superieure in Belgium, then settled in Milan. Castellani collaborated with artists such as Getulio Alviani, Piero Manzoni, and others. In 2010 he received the Praemium Imperiale for painting.
Paolo Scheggi is an Italian constructivist artist, designer and architect.
Scheggi was educated in Florence at the Academy of Fine Arts, initially studying Art Informel and New Dadaism techniques, but quickly developed his own style. He worked with Lucio Fontana and joined the New Trends movement in 1965.
Scheggi became best known for his layered monochromatic works. He was involved in journalism and poetry and worked on architectural urban projects. Scheggi also designed a new Milan fashion house for the famous designer Germana Marucelli.
Lucio Fontana was an Argentine-Italian artist known for his pioneering work in the field of Spatialism, an artistic movement that explored the relationship between space and art.
Fontana studied sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, Italy. In the 1940s, he began experimenting with a technique he called "Spatial Concept," in which he punctured or cut holes into the canvas to create a sense of depth and dimensionality.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Fontana continued to explore the possibilities of Spatialism, creating works in a variety of media, including sculpture, ceramics, and painting. One of his most famous series of works is the "Tagli" (Cuts), which consist of monochromatic canvases with one or more slashes or punctures.
Fontana's work had a significant influence on the development of the Arte Povera movement in Italy, as well as on the development of Minimalism and Conceptual Art. He exhibited his work widely in Europe and the United States, and his legacy continues to be celebrated by artists and critics today.
Fontana's innovative approach to art and his exploration of the relationship between space and form continue to be a source of inspiration for artists working in a wide range of media.
Eduarda Emilia Maino, known as Dadamaino, was an Italian avant-garde artist.
She considered her work to be greatly influenced by Lucio Fontana and Yves Klein. Dadamaino explored the effects of spectral colors in her work and analyzed the influence of color and form.
Domenico (Mimmo) Rotella was an Italian artist considered an important figure in post-war European art. Best known for his works of décollage and psychogeographics, made from torn advertising posters. He was associated to the Ultra-Lettrists an offshoot of Lettrism and later was a member of the Nouveau Réalisme, founded in 1960 by the art critic Pierre Restany.
Jacques Villon, birth name Gaston Duchamp, was a French painter and printmaker. In 1907 he changed his name to Jacques Villon. He was the brother of artists Marcel Duchamp and Raymond Duchamp-Villon.
Villon began his career as a painter and his early work was influenced by the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. He later became interested in Cubism and, together with his brother Raymond, became a member of the Putot group, a collective of artists who experimented with Cubist techniques.
In addition to painting, Villon was also a skilled engraver. He worked in various engraving techniques, including etching, aquatint and dry glass, and his prints are known for their intricate lines and geometric shapes.
Villon's work continued to evolve throughout his career, experimenting with different styles and techniques. In his later years, he returned to a more traditional style of painting, creating landscapes and portraits with bright colors and expressive strokes.
Villon's works were exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Pompidou Centre in Paris. He is considered to be one of the most significant figures of the Cubist movement and his contribution to modern art is still celebrated today.
