In the vibrant world of contemporary art, few artists embody the spirit of spontaneity and discovery quite like Gary Komarin. Born in New York City to a Czech architect and a Viennese writer, Komarin is a risk-taker and is considered a modern master in post-painterly abstraction. His career, which spans decades, highlights his innovative approach to painting, allowing his creations to evolve organically on the canvas. His upcoming exhibition at the Taylor Graham Gallery in New York from April 3 to May 5, 2023, promises to showcase his continued relevance in the art scene.
Komarin’s philosophy is rooted in a profound understanding of the artistic process. He eschews preconceptions, stating, “My paintings proceed without preconception. I paint to find out what it is that I am going to paint.” This approach positions him not just as an artist, but as a facilitator of artistic expression, akin to a stagehand orchestrating the elements necessary for a performance. Each brushstroke becomes a part of an unfolding narrative, where the canvas serves as both a battleground and a sanctuary for exploration.
His stalwart images possess an epic quality that captivates viewers, presenting a contemporary description of something timeless. For Komarin, abstraction has never been a formal dead end; rather, it has allowed him to challenge the limitations of the style, making painting “include more” because a recognizable image often excludes too much.
The artist believes that the most successful works are those that embrace failure. “The very best paintings are those that fail the most,” he asserts, suggesting that it is through the struggle and unpredictability of the creative process that true art emerges. This perspective challenges conventional notions of success in art, inviting viewers to appreciate the raw, unfiltered essence of creation.
Komarin has exhibited extensively throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia. He recently returned from a solo museum exhibition at the Musée Kiyoharu in Japan, where the exhibition and catalog titled Moon Flows like a Willow were orchestrated by the Yoshii Foundation in Tokyo and Paris. He was also invited to show his work at the privately owned Musée Mougins in the South of France, where he exhibited pieces from Twenty Four Vessels at Kit Mandor.
His work has been included in pivotal exhibitions, such as the 1996 show at 41 Greene Street alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat, Philip Guston, and Bill Traylor. In 2009, he participated in a catalog exhibition with Robert Motherwell and Sir Anthony Caro in Dublin, where one of his paintings was acquired by the Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Roma. In 2016, he exhibited with Joan Mitchell and Manuel Neri in Denver, and a short documentary film titled The Painter’s Path was produced about him.
Articles and essays about Komarin’s work have been published in prestigious outlets, including the New York Times, Art in America, and Arts Magazine. His work is found in many notable public collections, including the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna in Rome, the Denver Art Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, among others. Private collectors of his work include prominent figures such as John McEnroe and Candace Bushnell.
Living and working in a house and studio in the wooded hills of Roxbury, Connecticut, Komarin draws inspiration from the natural beauty surrounding him. The landscape plays a crucial role in his creative process, influencing the rhythms of his paintings. As he walks the path to his studio, he absorbs the sights and sounds of nature, which seamlessly integrate into his artistic expression.
As we anticipate Komarin’s upcoming exhibitions, it is clear that his commitment to authenticity and exploration will continue to captivate and inspire. His art invites us to witness the beauty of uncertainty and the transformative power of creativity, encouraging us to embrace our own narratives without the constraints of expectation. In a world often defined by rigid structures, Gary Komarin’s work stands as a testament to the freedom found in the unscripted moments of life and art.