Eddie Martinez - 20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Day Sale Hong Kong Sunday, November 24, 2019 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York
    Acquired from the above by the present owner

  • Catalogue Essay

    Renowned for exploring both figuration and abstraction in his practice, Brooklyn-based artist Eddie Martinez has established a reputation for his bold and dynamic works. Executed in 2015, the present lot is a captivating example of Martinez’s mature style with abstraction. Martinez has been critically lauded for his aggressive working methods, in which he smears and paints colour in a fast, confident manner. Although the sense of urgency has not been lost in his more recent works, as suggested by the coarse brushwork evident in the present lot, his maturing practice resonates with his audience in a more open, fluid manner.

    Composed of sharp strokes that are gestural but also impulsive, the present lot is full of energy. In a deceptively simple composition, amorphous blocks of exuberant colour dance around monochromatic negative space. The wide variety of materials employed to create the present lot highlight upon Martinez’s innovative vision and technical skill. The artist’s commanding manipulation of line and colour is present in his ability to transform a canvas by mixing the traditional medium of oil paint with more contemporary methods. Incorporating a range of oil, enamel, acrylic and spray paint in vividly contrasting combinations, Martinez leads his viewer’s eyes around the canvas, energizing and engaging the mind as a sense of narrative appears.

    The unique edge that has steadily developed throughout Martinez’s career reflects both his adolescent years creating graffiti, as well as his varied influences. Simultaneously referencing popular culture alongside his own personal experiences, Martinez’s art draws inspiration from Pablo Picasso, Phillip Guston, Robert Rauschenberg and Jean-Michel Basquiat – the latter of whom Martinez’s arresting canvases are often compared to.

    In the past decade, Martinez has built an irrefutable international recognition. In the past three years, Martinez has presented solo exhibitions at prominent museums and institutions, including the Bronx Museum, New York (2018), the Drawing Center, New York (2017) and the Davis Museum, Wellesley (2017). Alongside finding a place in numerous private collections, Martinez’s work forms part of notable public collections such as the Saatchi Collection in London and the Morgan Library in New York.

117

Untitled

2015
signed, titled and dated 'MARTINEZ 2015 "UNTITLED"' on the reverse; further signed and dated 'E. MARTINEZ 2015' on the stretcher
oil, enamel, acrylic, spray paint on linen
101.5 x 76.6 cm. (39 7/8 x 30 1/8 in.)
Executed in 2015.

Estimate
HK$380,000 - 450,000 
€43,300-51,300
$48,700-57,700

Sold for HK$1,750,000

Contact Specialist
Danielle So
Associate Specialist, Head of Day Sale

20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Day Sale

Hong Kong Auction 25 November 2019