KONRAD B. ABBOTT paintings/drawings

“A painter’s painter who doesn’t need huge scale to make an impact. At once both witty and visually dynamic, he has qualities akin to both de Kooning and the sophisticated primitiveness of Jan Muller. Yet it is wholly original, stamped by Abbott’s distinctive style, demonstrating his ability to combine dynamic figurative elements with abstraction. Although he was nowhere near as well known as he should
have been during his lifetime,
Konrad Bercovici Abbott was an immensely gifted painter and the art world is sadly diminished by his loss.”
Gallery & Studio, 2001

FELLOW ARTISTS SPEAK:
“Konrad Abbott has created a marvelously out-of-whack world with his paintings!”
William Anthony, Artist

On Looking at Konrad Abbott’s Paintings at the Memorial Exhibit at Westbeth Gallery, August, 2001:

“The first impression is of warmth, strength, liveliness, feelings of humaneness, sensitivity, a joy of life. Then, when one looks closer, you see that this genius was able to express all these things in quick, simple strokes, that have the artists shaking their heads in amazement. In a few brushstrokes he shows you a person, their mood, something of their character, and where they are in space and time. He also shows great affection for his models.

He is a figurative expressionist in the most econonic means. Each stroke does many things: shows the figure, its weight, where it it going, how it feels about where it is going; or it shows something around the figure, which is always an integral part of the story, a chair to sit on, a wall to lean on, the space the figure is filling.

He is also a painter of the richest effects. By economic, I do not mean minimalist. He gives us the color, the texture, the rhythm that makes each painting complete. His compositions are balanced, but there is activity going on, some movement, some unfinished gesture. His color is clear and in harmony and tells the emotional story of the picture.

Each painting is unique…there are no cliches. Did I mention the faces?
Go see the faces.”
Sheila Schwid, Artist, Curator,
Westbeth Gallery

“Painting is not dead! It lives and breathes, like a breath of fresh air, in the works of Konrad Bercovici Abbott. No concepts, theories, formulas or dogma. Just pure creative energy, honest, real, skilled, direct exuberance. Painting—the sheer joy of paint, color, line and composition. A celebration!

Although modest in size, the work is monumental and heroic rather than small. Never simple, always surprising, startlingly pure and innocent, with emotive composition and exquisite drawing. Each piece is an individual experience quite different from its siblings.

Abbott clearly trusts the moment and his instincts and the results are exhilirating. This is the essence of painting, unencumbered. All painters should see this work and everyone can be inspired and learn from it. It is an honor for me to have this opportunity to discuss his painting.”
Tom Shooter, Artist

“Each painting appears to have been felt and thought out as an individual performance. There are no repetitions such as occur in primitive art. And yet, these pictures have an iconic presence of sacred images in times long passed. This is remarkable coming from such an obviously sophisticated painter.”
Saul Lishinksy, Artist

FEATURED: SPIN MAGAZINE 1986-89

EXHIBIT/COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS:

Lincoln Center/Avery Fisher Hall, Manhattan Borough President’s Office, PeaceWorks/Times Square,
Westbeth Gallery, United Nations Commission/Geneva, Spin Magazine, 88 Artists in 88/Soho, collection of Martin Green/Doyle Carte, Collection of Abraham Walkowitz/Artist, Emerging Collector/East Village,
Art Student’s League

Lifetime Member, Art Student’s League
studied with:
Will Barnet, Isaac Soyer,
Stephen Green, Marshall Glasier,
Morris Kantor, Sidney Dickinson, Thomas Fogarty, Robert Phillip,
Maccabe Greenfield, Nathaniel Kaz, Robert Beverly Hale