art | joan mitchell

if you live in london, you might read time out magazine for the restaurant and theater reviews, or the schedule of events.

so, when my husband, bob, and i arrived in london recently, i borrowed a copy of time out from clive, the concierge at the capital hotel, to make sure that we weren't missing any interesting events.

joan mitchell is one of my favorite artists.  and, i would absolutely love to own one of her pastel drawings.

joan mitchell (1925-1992) | pastel | pastel on paper | 1991
cheim & read | new york NY
photo credit cheim & read

so, i was excited to discover that hauser & wirth gallery was presenting joan mitchell the last paintings from 3 february-28 april 2012. 

mitchell's late abstract expressionist paintings use intense gestures and intense colors that express her intense feelings for the countryside near her home in vetheuil, france.

 



joan mitchell (1925-1992) | river | oil on canvas | 1989
joan mitchell the last paintings | 3 feb-28 apr 2012 | hauser & wirth | london, united kingdom
photo credit hauser & wirth 

joan mitchell (1925-1992) | sunflowers | oil on canvas | 1990-1991 
joan mitchell the last paintings | 3 feb-28 apr 2012 | hauser & wirth | london, united kingdom
photo credit hauser & wirth 

joan mitchell (1925-1992) | trees | oil on canvas | 1990-1991
joan mitchell the last paintings | 3 feb-28 apr 2012 | hauser & wirth | london, united kingdom
photo credit hauser & wirth 

her last paintings are pure abstractions that use color, line, compositon, scale, and form spontaneously and freely.

joan mitchell (1925-1992) | untitled | oil on canvas | 1992
joan mitchell the last paintings | 3 feb-28 apr 2012 | hauser & wirth | london, united kingdom
photo credit hauser & wirth

 

















joan mitchell (1925-1992) | tondo | oil on canvas | 1991 
joan mitchell the last paintings | 3 feb-28 apr 2012 | hauser & wirth | london, united kingdom
photo credit hauser & wirth 

joan mitchell (1925-1992) | tondo | oil on canvas | 1991

joan mitchell the last paintings | 3 feb-28 apr 2012 | hauser & wirth | london, united kingdom
photo credit hauser & wirth

does the round format of the tondos remind you too much of damien hirst?

sold for GBP 445,250 | US$ 699,087

damien hirst | beautiful strummerville spin, the future is unwritten painting | household gloss on canvas | 2012
contemporary art evening auction | 15 february 2012 | sotheby's, bond street | sale l12020 lot 34
photo credit sotheby's