Beschreibung:

ALFONSO OSSORIO (FILIPINO/AMERICAN 1916-1990) UNLIKELY CLUTCH Ink, wax, watercolour and wash Signed and dated 1954 (lower right) 102 x 76cm (40 x 29¾ in.) Provenance: Tower Gallery, Southampton, New York Betty Parsons, New York Private Collection, Robert Stigwood (1934-2016), music and film producer, whom purchased from the above circa. 1980s 'These works stand out for their vivid, saturated colors, distinctive formal characteristics, and pulsating energy.' Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, New York, Alfonso Ossorio Retrospective. Alfonso Ossorio was at the centre of the Abstract Expressionist and Art Brut movements which flourished during the 1950s. This passion for the arts and exploration of abstraction, alongside his close friends Jackson Pollock and Jean Dubuffet, was reflected in not only his own practice but also his collecting habits. Financially supported by his family, Ossorio established one of the earliest collections of Art Brut and Abstract Expressionism, helping to consolidate and promote the movements in America. Ossorio's family made their wealth through the sugar-refining industries in Negros Occidental in the Philippines. Ossorio was educated in England before relocating to Rhode Island at the age of 14. Ossorio studied Fine Art at Harvard University and held his first solo exhibition in New York with Betty Parsons in 1941. Ossorio's interest in art reached further than just practice, he was a keen collector and whilst studying at Harvard the Fogg Museum exhibited his early collection of works including pieces by Eric Gill and David Jones. Whilst exhibiting with Betty Parsons throughout the 40s, Ossorio became aware of Jackson Pollock's work, another artist Parsons was supporting and he was immediately drawn to his unique talent. Ossorio purchased his first Pollock 'drip' painting in 1949 titled Number 5, 1948. From this moment forward a strong friendship ensued between Ossorio and Pollock, both as artists but also as patron and artist. 'Europe no longer had anything to offer but a mixture of memories.' Harold Rosenberg, The De-Definition of Art (New York: Collier, 1972). P. 194 In November 1949, Pollock encouraged Ossorio to travel to Paris to meet with his friend Jean Dubuffet. At the time Dubuffet had experienced a great deal of criticism in Europe for his highly textured Art Brut works but his reputation was growing across the pond. Ossorio returned to New York with three new purchases Robinson, Figure au site Champetre and La dame au pompom and most importantly a new friendship which would continue in perpetuity. By 1951 Dubuffet was arguably the most famous French artist in America, possibly with the help of Ossorio. Together with Ossorio's lifelong partner, Ted Dragon, he purchased an estate on Long Island called The Creeks. The estate became synonymous with lavish parties attended by some of the most important artists of the 20th century Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning and Lee Krasner. The Creeks, arguably helped to develop the strength of abstract expressionism in America. In 1952, Dubuffet's The Art Brut Collection which included 1200 works by approximately 100 artists was installed at Ossorio's estate. The collection hung on the upper floors of The Creeks alongside Ossorio's personal collection of works by Jackson Pollock, Clyfford Still, Lee Krasner and Willem de Kooning. In 1962 the collection returned to Paris to a purpose made space organised by Dubuffet and from 1976 the collection was moved to Lausanne in Switzerland in the Collection de l'Art Brut, where it remains today. Lot 161 represents Alfonso Ossorio's exploration of surrealism, characterised as "metaphysical fantasies," featured emotionally charged expressionistic brushstrokes. Influenced by his return to the Philippines in 1949, to carry out a mural commission for the chapel of St. Joseph the Worker in his hometown Victorias, he introduced the 'wax-resist' technique, inspired by Victor Brauner, giving rise to the Victorias Paintings series.