Untitled
Artist
Aris Koutroulis
(American, 1938-2013)
Date1983
MediumAcrylic on canvas
Dimensions46 × 116 in. (116.8 × 294.6 cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Object numberUAC2754
DescriptionUntitled gives a sense of the method that would become synonymous with Aris Koutroulis: thick lines of glue-mixed paint and linen pieces forming a composition. Here, two main sections are bisected by a thin line down the middle, and heavy lines of color paint stretch across the extra wide canvas. The drips of paint that move down from the main lines of swirling color give the piece a weightiness. These are not streams of water but thick, molasses-like, strong or even lazy pools of pigment that hold the piece together. Produced after the time he spent with the artists in the Cass Corridor, this work shows more of the mature style that Koutroulis would develop, utilizing the method of thick paints and vibrant colors over more traditional painting or print methods that he was known for.
Aris Koutroulis (1938-2013), born in Athens, Greece, moved to the United States where he attended school at Louisiana University in 1961. Working in the post-war era Aris is counted among the American contemporary art scene, as well as being a teacher of art from 1964 to 1999. He taught and worked in Michigan primarily, earning his masters degree while teaching at the Cranbrook Academy of Art before moving to Wayne State University to head the Lithography Workshop. His artwork can be found in many collections, including those of the Detroit Institute of Arts, Museum of Modern Art, and National Gallery in Washington D.C.
Written by Alex Heath
