Artist: Ilya Bolotowsky (1907–1981)
Title: Tondo with Blue and Yellow
Medium: Original Acrylic on Canvas Painting
Size: 47 inches (119 cm) in Diameter
Year: 1969
Signature: Signed and dated lower right "Ilya Bolotowsky 69"
Exhibition History: Ilya Bolotowsky, 20 September – 11 November 1974, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
Literature: Ilya Bolotowsky, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum exhibition catalog, p. 78, pl. 48
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
"Tondo with Blue and Yellow" is a significant example of Ilya Bolotowsky's exploration of geometric abstraction during the late 1960s. Executed in oil on canvas, this circular composition measures 47 inches (119 cm) in diameter and features a dynamic arrangement of color blocks in white, yellow, and blue, punctuated with graphic black linework. The tondo format, a circular canvas, reflects Bolotowsky's interest in non-traditional shapes, which he employed to challenge the conventional rectangular canvas and to create a sense of harmony and unity within the composition.
Ilya Bolotowsky's "Tondo with Blue and Yellow" was exhibited in the 1974 retrospective at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, a pivotal exhibition that solidified Bolotowsky's reputation in the American art scene. The exhibition catalog features "Tondo with Blue and Yellow" on page 78, plate 48, highlighting its significance within the context of the artist's body of work. Other works by Ilya Bolotowsky are part of the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Carnegie Museum of Art. Its unbroken provenance is documented and available upon request.
"Tondo with Blue and Yellow" exemplifies Bolotowsky's integration of color, line, and shape, reflecting both his engagement with contemporary movements such as hard-edge and color-field painting and his personal vision of abstract harmony. It's accompanied by a gallery Certificate of authenticity.
About Ilya Bolotowsky
Ilya Bolotowsky (1907–1981) was a Russian-born American painter renowned for his contributions to abstract art. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Bolotowsky immigrated to the United States in 1923, settling in New York City. He studied at the National Academy of Design from 1924 to 1930, where he developed his artistic foundation. Influenced by European modernists, particularly Piet Mondrian, Bolotowsky embraced geometric abstraction, seeking philosophical order through visual expression.
In 1936, he co-founded the American Abstract Artists group, advocating for non-representational art and promoting abstract painting in America. His work evolved from early figurative pieces to more structured, geometric compositions, often incorporating bold colors and dynamic forms.
Bolotowsky's artistic journey included teaching roles at institutions such as Black Mountain College and various universities across the United States. His work has been exhibited in prominent institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and is part of several esteemed collections.
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