Art 1981 Chicago

Robert Motherwell (1915 – 1991, American) “Art 1981 Chicago” – Original color lithograph created in an un-numbered limited edition of 2000 for the artist’s special exhibit at the Chicago International Art Exposition at Navy Pier held May 14th-19th, 1981. The unframed cream wove paper sheet measures 39.5 x 27.5 inches and there is minimal wear to the edge in the lower right of the paper, otherwise, it is in excellent condition. Signed in the plate with initials and date in the upper right corner, and also signed with initials and date in crayon in the lower right corner of the abstract image. (It is rare to find an example of this piece with both signatures.) The text reads, “Art. 1981. Chicago; Navy Pier; May 14 – 19” and “Tyler Graphics LTD. © Copyright 1981 Robert Motherwell” in small print at the bottom center. Literature/catalogue raisonne: See Belknap (B.249) and Engberg-Banach (E. and B. 282); Tyler Graphics 410; Robert Motherwell 29.

Robert Motherwell was a painter, printmaker, and writer, of the New York School. He was known for his abstract expressionist work and the creation of simple shapes in strokes of bold, contrasting color.