American artist Dan Colen has spent most of his career asking himself questions about the editorial decisions artists have to make when creating a scene from scratch on canvas. In his early work, Colen painted mundane interiors punctuated with fantastical elements. This manifested as part of a growing curiosity in the ethereal or divine intervention.
Colen subsequently stepped away from paint as material and started using found objects as mediums with which to paint. Among these, Colen has used chewing gum, street trash, confetti, feathers, flowers and dirt. This methodology allows Colen to abandon control and create in a more free-form, subconscious manner.
2012 flowers on linen 223.5 x 168 cm (87 7/8 x 66 1/8 in.) Signed, titled, numbered and dated 'D.C 203 "Better Young than Dead" Dan Colen 2010' twice on the overlap and stretcher. Further inscribed 'flowers on linen' on the stretcher.
Estimate £50,000 - 70,000 ‡
Sold for £62,500
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Head of Sale hhighley@phillips.com
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