261: SUZANNE PIPKIN (B. 1938) LAYERED ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

Suzanne Pipkin (Born 1938)
Non-Representational Composition (untitled) (1978)
A scarce work by the Kansas City colorist Suzanne Pipkin signed and dated verso.

In the late 1970s and early '80s, more than a decade before earning her master's degree at the Kansas City Art Institute, Suzanne Pipkin laid to canvas a series of complex works inspired by the energy, color and motion she experienced in her mind's eye when viewing certain objects. Of translating these sensations to canvas she said, ''When I would start one of my layered acrylic paintings, I had no preconceived idea of the end result. I was in the process of experimentation from the very beginning. It began with a single color, which led me to another - and I was in the zone. As I worked, I was constantly looking to see that the colors were connecting and giving energy to each other, and the overall piece. It was so exciting to see it evolve.'

We first encountered one of these paintings in an estate about 10 years ago. Searching for more information we soon realized not many of these complicated paintings had been created. Even when a Pipkin layered acrylic was sold by us at auction for $12,000.00 in 2018, little was known about the artist or these compositions so evocative of the following quote on colorists like Suzanne: 'They use color not to give us a surface to stare at, but to invite us inward toward something beyond the surface, deep within the painting, and within ourselves.'

Late last year when this painting was consigned by her daughter, we began to learn more about her mother's work. Suzanne confirmed that her output in this style was limited and that the inspiration, indeed the ability, to create these works disappeared just as it had appeared.

''Over the years I've tried,'' she said, ''I can't do it.''
Canvas measures 48 x 44 inches.
Very good original untouched condition. There are no issues of scratches, losses, repairs, in-painting or touch-up.
Provenance: Collection of the artist's daughter.
$2,000 - $3,000