What Is Abstract Art?

By Rebecca Pikus

Abstract Art is a painting or sculpture that does not depict a person, place, or thing in the natural world — it is non-representational and non-literal. It is a symbolic reality, as depicted in such mediums as ancient rock paintings, and textile & pottery designs.  In abstract art the colors provoke strong emotions.  Brushstrokes, texture, scale, musical references, symbolic reality leave only the essence of the piece.  This genre of art uses a visual language of shape, form, color, and line to create a composition which exists with a degree of independence from visual references in the world.  In many ways, abstract artists are true poets; they represent images that are not visually literal or figurative — such as emotion, sound, and spiritual experience.  Abstract artists include Kandinsky, Carra, Boccioni, Malevich, Pollock, & Rothko.

Rebecca Fine Art Gallery is featuring several of the finest living abstract artists in the current Exhibit “Masters of Abstract Art” — Joe Novak, Mario Pikus, Robert Tahar, and Donald Spencer.

Joe Novak’s focus throughout his career has been the exploration of color and light through abstraction.  He is the original creator of color field theory.  He paints large monochromatic color field canvases with tonal gradations and soft edges that infuse them with a meditative quality & a sense of movement.  The art critic Peter Frank has written of his work: “One step beyond Rothko’s, Novak’s paintings gently force the eye to breathe color.”  Joe Novak has exhibited in many galleries throughout the United States.  In addition, his numerous museum collections include Berkeley Art Museum, Cincinnati Art Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Palm Springs Art Museum, & New Mexico Museum of Art.

Mario Pikus, Argentine painter & sculptor, won his first art award at 8 yrs. old.  At age 20, he traveled to New York to meet cubist sculptor Jacques Lipschitz, who became his mentor – he believed Mario to be an artistic genius and that he was the reincarnation of Chaim Soutine.  Pikus has won many awards including Best of Show at Palm Springs Art Museum’s ACE exhibit, and Palm Springs Annual Juried Show.  In 2014-2016 his 2 magnificent horse sculptures were exhibited in the El Paseo Sculpture Gardens.  He has exhibited in NYC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs – as well as museum shows in Judah Magnes Museum, Palm Springs Art Museum, and Cabot Museum.

Robert Tahar, a French artist, is a painter and a world traveler.  In France he was a music publisher & producer.  He later traveled to Asia, India, the North Pole, Scandanavia, Argentina, Africa, Thailand, China, & Tibet.  He is completely passionate about his art, and becomes mesmerized, and goes into a trance-like state, painting round the clock until a canvas is finished.  The “wave” and the convergence of 2 points are the essence of each canvas.  His art is “sublime” and he endeavors to bring beauty, harmony, and spirituality to the world through his art.

Donald Spencer, originally from Ohio, is an artist who merges classic painting and printmaking techniques to produce works of extraordinary depth, subtly, richness of color and striking luminosity. Early in his art career he was invited to study and paint at the Whitney Museum in NYC.  He held a teaching position in the New York Fine Arts Program. He also built and operated numerous cultural Foundations.  His work has been described as ethereal, spiritual, and mesmerizing.

Also on exhibit is the latest magnificent sculpture by Robert Reeves – “Homage to Mapplethorpe” after his Lily series, and his iconic sculpture “Bolero”.  Reeves started out as an architect, then city planner, then fine artist.  His education includes a Fulbright Fellowship, a B.A. in Architectural Sciences, and a Masters of Architecture,

“Masters of Abstract Art” Exhibit through March 31, 2017 – REBECCA FINE ART GALLERY, 68895 Perez Rd, #7, Cathedral City, Ca  (760) 534-5888 – Rebeccafineart.net – Gallery Hours: Wed.-Sun. 11AM-4PM or by Appt.

“Artists Reception – Zoe Ann Fischer”, SAT. Feb. 4, 5-8PM – REBECCA FINE ART GALLERY – Open Bar, Music, Great Art