Lot description
Untitled (Search Mindscape Series) signed and dated 1996 (lower right) oil on canvas 35" x 48" (89 cm x 122 cm) León Gallery wishes to thank the estate of the artist for confirming the authenticity of this lot Justin “Tiny” Nuyda was renowned for his abstract art that depicted surreal landscapes. His oeuvres are populated with a brilliantly curated array of colors that seem to glow under the luminosity of an inviting and unnerving radiance. His inspirations, decorated in his combination of intense brushstrokes and striking palette, were drawn from the material beauty of the physical world. A serene meditation and introspection are imbued in every Nuyda piece, a quality attributed to his artistic approach. Yet, simple was how he described his practice. He starts with priming the canvas with as much as seven coatings, followed by painting it with waif-like strokes that are robust and delicate at the same time, evoking a solid slate and the fluidity of butterfly wings floating over horizons. Afterward, ethereal geometric forms were subtly incorporated into his abstract compositions. He was spontaneous as an artist, composing as he painted, only concluding an artwork once the paintbrush was lifted from the canvas. The ability of his aesthetic interpretation to capture the enigmatic nature of scenery is very well encapsulated in this 1996 oil painting. Indeed, the alluring landscapes that Nuyda committed to his canvases were windows to how he saw the world. Although one can argue that his works of art evoke impressionistic and gestural visual cues that are undoubtedly hallmarks of an age-old artistic movement, a closer look will reveal that his works seem to occupy an unusual and otherworldly divide between the abstract and sensuous and the representational and realistic. Far from the pure impressionistic stance of the abstract and too mystical for the likes of realism, one can only describe his style as a pioneering endeavor that is incredibly distinct and uniquely his. (P.I.R.)
