Artist: Vasa (Velizar Mihich)
Title: Monumental Block (Pink, Teal, Blue)
Medium: Original Laminated Acrylic with Custom Birch Plinth
Sculpture: 51" × 64.5" × 2.125"
With Plinth: 80" × 72" × 14"
Year: 1987
Signature/Inscription: Incised lower corner "# 2850 Vasa C 1987"
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
"Monumental Block (Pink, Teal, Blue)" (1987) is a landmark example of Vasa's exploration of color, light, and geometric form in three-dimensional space. The sculpture itself measures 51 inches high, 64.5 inches wide, and 2 inches deep, while the inclusion of the custom birch plinth elevates the work to 80 inches high, 72 inches wide, and 14 inches deep, creating a commanding presence suitable for large-scale installation.
Constructed from laminated acrylic panels in black, pink, teal, and blue, the work produces shifting chromatic effects as ambient light passes through and reflects across the layered planes. The sculpture's prismatic forms and precise geometry reflect Vasa's ongoing investigation into the interaction of light and material, producing visual depth and dynamism from multiple viewing angles. The bold scale and architectural quality of the piece situate it within Vasa's broader body of monumental acrylic constructions, which are noted for their immersive spatial qualities and engagement with color-field principles in three dimensions.
Vasa's work is represented in major institutional collections worldwide, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the New Orleans Museum of Art, confirming the artist's significant contribution to contemporary color and light sculpture. "Monumental Block (Pink, Teal, Blue)" exemplifies his mature approach to creating architectonic forms that occupy and transform space, offering both aesthetic impact and perceptual complexity.
The sculpture is incised at one lower corner with "# 2850 Vasa C 1987" and is accompanied by a gallery certificate of authenticity.
About Vasa (Velizar Mihich)
Velizar Mihich, known professionally as Vasa, is a Serbian-American artist whose work has significantly impacted the field of contemporary abstract sculpture. Born in 1933, he received his early education in Yugoslavia, where he studied design and later taught at the University of Belgrade. After moving to the United States in 1960, Vasa established himself in Los Angeles, joining the faculty of the University of California, where he taught color theory and design, merging his academic expertise with his artistic explorations.
Vasa's sculptural practice emerged in the 1960s, when he began working with laminated acrylic to produce three-dimensional forms that engage with light and color. These sculptures, often composed of translucent panels with graduated hues, are designed to alter perception as viewers move around them. By integrating principles of color theory into spatial constructions, Vasa developed a unique approach that bridges painting and sculpture, offering immersive visual experiences that redefine the boundaries of contemporary abstraction.
His work has been exhibited widely and is held in prominent museum collections, including the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Honolulu Museum of Art, and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. These placements highlight his international recognition and his role as a leading figure in the development of color-based, light-responsive sculpture.
Vasa's ongoing exploration of light, transparency, and color has cemented his reputation as an innovative and influential artist. By combining rigorous academic knowledge with experimental material techniques, he has expanded the vocabulary of contemporary abstract art, inspiring both viewers and fellow artists while advancing the understanding of how color and form interact within space.
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