Key Takeaways
- Oskar Fischinger’s solo art exhibit, "Oskar Fischinger: A Deeper Look," will open on January 2 at the Sullivan Goss Gallery.
- The exhibit will feature a selection of Fischinger’s most idiosyncratic canvases, showcasing his unique vision and evolution as a painter.
- A monograph titled "Oskar Fischinger" will be released, serving as the definitive text on his life’s work as a painter.
- Fischinger’s paintings are now part of the collection of nearly every major museum in California and prominent institutions on the East Coast, including MOMA, the Guggenheim, and the Smithsonian.
Introduction to Oskar Fischinger’s Exhibit
The Sullivan Goss Gallery is set to open a solo art exhibit, "Oskar Fischinger: A Deeper Look," on January 2, which will highlight the innovative painting career of Oskar Fischinger, a pioneer of abstract animation and visual music. This exhibit coincides with the release of the first major monograph dedicated entirely to Fischinger’s work as a painter. The monograph aims to balance the scales on an artist whose 800-painting body of work has been overlooked by the focus on his films. The exhibit and monograph celebrate the rediscovery of a pioneering Los Angeles artist whose work is as relevant and fascinating today as it has ever been.
Fischinger’s Painting Career
While Fischinger is rightly celebrated for his revolutionary abstract films, his commitment to painting spanned over 30 years, a period longer than his work in cinema. The gallery will feature a selection of his most idiosyncratic canvases, demonstrating an evolution driven by his unique vision and an outsider mentality. The exhibit will include early works that were developed in conjunction with various film projects, a major stereoscopic painting that was recently featured in an exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum, and important late works from the mid-60s. This showcase will provide a comprehensive look at Fischinger’s development as a painter and his contributions to the art world.
The Accompanying Monograph
The accompanying monograph, "Oskar Fischinger," with an introduction by Paul Karlstrom and essay by gallery owner, Nathan Vonk, serves as the definitive text to date on this aspect of his life’s work. The monograph examines Fischinger’s development after his arrival in Los Angeles in 1936, a period marked by his influential relationships with figures like German émigré art dealer Galka Scheyer and Baroness Hilla von Rebay, curator for the newly established Solomon R. Guggenheim foundation in New York. This period was crucial in shaping Fischinger’s artistic style and vision, and the monograph provides valuable insights into his creative process and the context in which he worked.
Fischinger’s Legacy
Despite the challenges of Los Angeles’ nascent contemporary art scene, Fischinger’s creative freedom allowed for groundbreaking works that were utterly unique in the history of art from this region. Today, his paintings are in the collection of nearly every major museum in California and prominent institutions like MOMA, the Guggenheim, and the Smithsonian on the East Coast. This is a testament to Fischinger’s enduring legacy and the significance of his contributions to the art world. The exhibit and monograph serve as a reminder of the importance of Fischinger’s work and its continued relevance in the contemporary art scene.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the upcoming exhibit "Oskar Fischinger: A Deeper Look" and the accompanying monograph "Oskar Fischinger" are significant events in the art world, shedding light on the innovative painting career of a pioneering artist. Fischinger’s unique vision and evolution as a painter are a testament to his creative genius, and his legacy continues to inspire and fascinate art lovers today. The exhibit and monograph provide a comprehensive look at Fischinger’s life’s work as a painter, and his contributions to the art world, cementing his place as one of the most important artists of the 20th century.