Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Maria Lassnig Biography
Maria Lassnig, born on September 8,
1919, in Kappel am Krappfeld, Carinthia, Austria, emerged as
one of the most pioneering and influential painters of the
20th and early 21st centuries. Her journey from a tumultuous
childhood to becoming an internationally celebrated artist
is a testament to her resilience, innovation, and profound
introspection through art. Lassnig's work, characterized by
its intense exploration of body awareness and
self-representation, has left an indelible mark on the
contemporary art scene, inspiring generations of artists.
Lassnig's early life was marked by challenges. Born out of
wedlock, she experienced a sense of neglect and unlove from
her grandmother, who raised her initially. Her life took a
turn at the age of six when her mother married, providing
Lassnig with a more stable home environment and the gift of
pencils that set her on the path to art. Despite the early
hardships, Lassnig's passion for painting led her to the
Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, where she studied during the
tumultuous times of World War II. Her education at the
academy laid the foundation for her artistic pursuits, but
it was her relentless exploration of self through painting
that defined her career.
Lassnig's artistic journey was profoundly influenced by her
experiences in post-war Europe, where she quickly moved away
from the academic realism taught at the academy. She looked
towards Austria's avant-garde past, drawing inspiration from
the expressive coloration of Oskar Kokoschka and Egon
Schiele's treatment of figuration. Her early works were
marked by experiments with surrealism and automatism,
followed by engagements with 'art informel' and post-cubism
in the 1950s. A significant turning point in her career came
with her move to Paris in 1960, where she was introduced to
innovative figuration, expressive and painterly, which began
to emerge in her work.
In 1968, Lassnig moved to New York, a decision that brought
a new direction to her artistic work. She turned to external
realism, painting portraits, nudes, and still lifes, while
also combining these with her 'body awareness'
self-portraits. It was in New York that Lassnig studied film
animation at the School of Visual Arts from 1970 to 1972,
further expanding her artistic repertoire. Despite the
recognition she began to receive, Lassnig's work remained
deeply personal, focusing on the physiological sensations of
her body, which she depicted through distorted, expressive
self-portraits painted in extraordinary colors.
Lassnig's return to Vienna in 1980 marked another
significant phase in her career. She became the first woman
professor of painting in the German-speaking countries,
holding a chair in painting and animation film at the
University of Applied Arts in Vienna. Her work continued to
evolve, exploring themes of existentialism, the fragility of
the body, and the passage of time. Lassnig's self-portraits,
often treated with playful irony, addressed the aging
process and psychological turmoil, making her a pioneer in
the exploration of female subjectivity in art.
Throughout her career, Lassnig received numerous accolades,
including the Grand Austrian State Prize in 1988, the Golden
Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale in
2013, and the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art. Her
work has been exhibited in major institutions worldwide,
including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Serpentine
Gallery in London, and MoMA PS1 in New York.
Maria Lassnig passed away on May 6, 2014, in Vienna, but her
legacy endures. Her pioneering concept of 'body awareness'
painting, where the only true reality is the artist's
feelings played out within the confines of the body, has
influenced countless artists and continues to inspire new
generations. Lassnig's work remains a powerful testament to
the capacity of art to explore the depths of human
experience, making her one of the most important figures in
contemporary art.
Maria Lassnig Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, through which you will be
informed at the beginning of each month about the latest
acquisitions of the art gallery.
You can send us pictures of the work: