Lot description
PROPERTY FROM THE OSSORIO FAMILY COLLECTION Untitled signed and dated 9.II.57 (verso) oil, enamel, and plaster on masonite 96” x 24” (244 cm x 61 cm) WRITE UP Alfonso Ossorio was born into affluence and prosperity. Following in his father’s footsteps, Ossorio was sent to various prestigious English boarding schools during his childhood, laying the foundation for his cosmopolitan education. Eventually, he journeyed to the United States, where his father had established permanent residence. Ossorio’s formal education continued at Portsmouth Priory, a Benedictine abbey located in Rhode Island, where he distinguished himself academically. His graduation even graced the society pages, highlighted by a lunch hosted by the illustrious Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Vanderbilt aboard their yacht—a testament to the high social circles he moved in. In 1934, Ossorio entered Harvard University, where he immersed himself in the study of fine arts, graduating in 1938. His time at Harvard exposed him to various artistic philosophies and techniques, shaping his early artistic inclinations. A few years later, Ossorio relocated to a ranch in the vast and rugged landscape of New Mexico. It was here, in the serene yet stark desert environment, that he encountered Betty Parsons, a gallerist whose own life had been marked by significant change—she had lost her family fortune and had even pawned her engagement ring to support her burgeoning art career. Parsons, recognizing Ossorio’s potential, invited him to join her roster of emerging artists. This group would come to include some of the most significant figures of the Abstract Expressionist movement, such as Mark Rothko, Robert Rauschenberg, and the then-unknown Jackson Pollock. Ossorio and Pollock forged a deep friendship and artistic alliance, with Pollock’s influence becoming evident in Ossorio’s work. In the late 1950s, Alfonso Ossorio created five large panels using oil and mixed media, each one a deeply personal gift to individuals who were exceptionally close to him. This period was pivotal in Ossorio’s artistic journey, as he had solidified friendships with some of the most influential artists of the time, including Jackson Pollock, Hans Hofmann, Willem de Kooning, Clyfford Still, Mark Rothko, David Smith, and the French artist Jean Dubuffet. These relationships significantly impacted Ossorio’s work, infusing it with the raw energy and experimental spirit of Abstract Expressionism. This particular piece echoes both the style and philosophy of this significant phase in Ossorio’s career and shares stylistic similarities with his other large-scale works. The dynamic, almost chaotic interplay of black, white, and hints of color in this work echoes the influence of Pollock’s action painting, yet it also bears Ossorio’s unique signature of combining abstraction with deeply personal, symbolic content. This artwork not only reflects Ossorio’s close connections within the art world but also stands as a testament to his own innovative contributions to mid-20th-century art.