Philip Perkins (Tennessee, 1907-1970) oil on canvas abstract painting titled "Hole in Space" and dated 1950 in pencil en verso on stretcher. Depicts a faintly rendered white object within a v-shaped black field, with dark lines on either side, all against a background of blue and red folds. Signed "Perkins '51" lower right. Housed in painted and gilt wood frame. Sight - 29 3/4" H x 39 5/8" W. Framed - 31 1/4" H x 41 1/4" W. Provenance: the estate of Kent Cathcart, Nashville, Tennessee. Note: this lot is accompanied by a June 25, 1954, copy of a letter from the artist Philip Perkins bequeathing this painting (along with several others) to his longtime friend, Kent Cathcart. Biography: Philip Perkins received critical acclaim for his geometric, cubist influenced work of the 1940s and his abstract expressionism in the 1950s. He was born in Waverly, Tennessee and studied at Vanderbilt University and the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1932 he moved to Paris, France, where he studied under Jean Marchaud, Louis Marcoussis, and Fernand Leger. In 1934 he exhibited at the Salon D'Automne and the Salon de Tuileries. In 1940 he moved to New York City and in 1947 participated in the International Surrealist Exhibition. He spent seven years teaching art at the University of Tennessee in Nashville (1948-1955) but went back to Europe for several more years before returning to Nashville in 1961.

Evidence of dampstaining to back of canvas. Scattered minor liquid stains ( largest 3/4" L x 1/4" W) to lower half of painting (front). Blanching in small areas (largest 2" x 2") in lower half of painting, mostly in space above signature.