Image Dimensions: 29 1/4 x 38 1/2 in (74 x 97.5 cm)

Signed (lower left)

This painting comes with COA.

This painting by Norman Lewis, completed in 1962, exemplifies the artist's mature period, where abstraction was infused with lyrical gestures and cultural resonance. As a leading figure of the Abstract Expressionist movement and one of the few African American artists within its core circle, Lewis brought a unique voice that bridged formal innovation with social consciousness. His works often diverged from the aggressive physicality of his peers, favoring instead a subtler visual rhythm rooted in introspection and coded symbolism.

This untitled composition radiates with vibrant motion. A field of deep green serves as the foundation for a dynamic cluster of brushstrokes that cascade across the canvas-each mark a distinct color note, from coral and vermilion to violet and pale pink. The overall effect is one of suspended energy, evoking a sense of ritual procession or nature in bloom, yet refracted through the abstract vocabulary that Lewis developed during this decade. The painting's surface reveals both spontaneous immediacy and compositional balance, where gestural freedom meets quiet order.

Works from this period, especially those of comparable scale and chromatic complexity, are highly sought after. Major institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art have actively acquired Lewis's paintings, reaffirming his growing historical importance. His market has seen a notable rise in recent years, with works from the early 1960s achieving strong six-figure results at auction, particularly those that display the rhythmic abstraction and gestural richness found here.

Beyond market metrics, this painting exemplifies Lewis's art-historical relevance as a bridge between modernist abstraction and African American cultural expression. It resonates with the aesthetics of jazz improvisation, calligraphic motion, and coded political meaning-elements that have secured Lewis's place in scholarly discourse and retrospective exhibitions.

In a private setting, the work's saturated palette and painterly exuberance provide a sophisticated visual statement. It harmonizes equally well in contemporary interiors or traditional spaces, its energy both grounding and elevating.

This painting stands as a testament to Norman Lewis's singular vision: expressive, elegant, and enduring. It is a rare and resonant example from a master whose legacy continues to ascend.