RAY MEAD "THE MEGARON" 1975
A founding member of Painters Eleven, Ray Mead (1921-1988) occupies a distinct place within the arc of postwar Canadian abstraction.
Mead immigrated to Canada and settled in Hamilton in 1946. He had important relationships with Walter Yarwood and Hortense Gordon. The later shared many of her lessons that she had absorbed from studying with Hans Hoffmann.
In the early 1950s, Mead made several trips to New York City, intrigued by the nascent dominance of Abstract Expressionism. As a result, Mead's work synthesized European Modernism and mid-century American abstraction.
Mead was not nearly as active as some of his contemporaries (notably Harold Town and William Ronald) after the demise of Painters Eleven. He took a significant amount of time off from being a studio artist in order to focus on graphic design.
Mead brought a designer’s clarity and an instinct for compression to his practice. Using painted surfaces and collaged paper, Mead creates interactions that have an inherent depth. This dynamic work on paper features long swaths of unmodulated color interlocked with hard-edged forms. Using economical compositional strategies, Mead creates a developed surface that is resolutely frontal.
The simplicity of this work, like many of this era, seems to balance the spirit of abstract expressionism with minimalism.
Mead is one member of Painters Eleven who arguably became more distinctive (and perhaps better!) towards the end of his life. His compositions become more confident and graphic, often alluding to the late works of Robert Motherwell.
This graphic collage on paper is a fine example from the later part of Mead's career.
Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto Gallery.
"The Megaron"
Canada, 1975
Collage and acrylic on Arches paper
Signed and dated lower center
29.75"H 20"W (sheet)
34.5"H 25.75"W (framed)
Very good condition
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RAY MEAD "THE MEGARON" 1975
A founding member of Painters Eleven, Ray Mead (1921-1988) occupies a distinct place within the arc of postwar Canadian abstraction.
Mead immigrated to Canada and settled in Hamilton in 1946. He had important relationships with Walter Yarwood and Hortense Gordon. The later shared many of her lessons that she had absorbed from studying with Hans Hoffmann.
In the early 1950s, Mead made several trips to New York City, intrigued by the nascent dominance of Abstract Expressionism. As a result, Mead's work synthesized European Modernism and mid-century American abstraction.
Mead was not nearly as active as some of his contemporaries (notably Harold Town and William Ronald) after the demise of Painters Eleven. He took a significant amount of time off from being a studio artist in order to focus on graphic design.
Mead brought a designer’s clarity and an instinct for compression to his practice. Using painted surfaces and collaged paper, Mead creates interactions that have an inherent depth. This dynamic work on paper features long swaths of unmodulated color interlocked with hard-edged forms. Using economical compositional strategies, Mead creates a developed surface that is resolutely frontal.
The simplicity of this work, like many of this era, seems to balance the spirit of abstract expressionism with minimalism.
Mead is one member of Painters Eleven who arguably became more distinctive (and perhaps better!) towards the end of his life. His compositions become more confident and graphic, often alluding to the late works of Robert Motherwell.
This graphic collage on paper is a fine example from the later part of Mead's career.
Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto Gallery.
"The Megaron"
Canada, 1975
Collage and acrylic on Arches paper
Signed and dated lower center
29.75"H 20"W (sheet)
34.5"H 25.75"W (framed)
Very good condition
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A founding member of Painters Eleven, Ray Mead (1921-1988) occupies a distinct place within the arc of postwar Canadian abstraction.
Mead immigrated to Canada and settled in Hamilton in 1946. He had important relationships with Walter Yarwood and Hortense Gordon. The later shared many of her lessons that she had absorbed from studying with Hans Hoffmann.
In the early 1950s, Mead made several trips to New York City, intrigued by the nascent dominance of Abstract Expressionism. As a result, Mead's work synthesized European Modernism and mid-century American abstraction.
Mead was not nearly as active as some of his contemporaries (notably Harold Town and William Ronald) after the demise of Painters Eleven. He took a significant amount of time off from being a studio artist in order to focus on graphic design.
Mead brought a designer’s clarity and an instinct for compression to his practice. Using painted surfaces and collaged paper, Mead creates interactions that have an inherent depth. This dynamic work on paper features long swaths of unmodulated color interlocked with hard-edged forms. Using economical compositional strategies, Mead creates a developed surface that is resolutely frontal.
The simplicity of this work, like many of this era, seems to balance the spirit of abstract expressionism with minimalism.
Mead is one member of Painters Eleven who arguably became more distinctive (and perhaps better!) towards the end of his life. His compositions become more confident and graphic, often alluding to the late works of Robert Motherwell.
This graphic collage on paper is a fine example from the later part of Mead's career.
Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto Gallery.
"The Megaron"
Canada, 1975
Collage and acrylic on Arches paper
Signed and dated lower center
29.75"H 20"W (sheet)
34.5"H 25.75"W (framed)
Very good condition
