Art Review
Among the youngest in the Abstract Expressionist movement, the artist forged a unique journey inspired by the elegance and complexity of cellular forms.
Charles Seliger, “May Day” (1968), acrylic and oil on canvas (all images courtesy the Charles M. Seliger Trust and Hollis Taggart, New York)
At just 19, Charles Seliger held his first solo exhibition at Peggy Guggenheim’s gallery The Art of This Century in 1945, marking him as one of the youngest figures linked to the rise of Abstract Expressionism. Distinct from his peers, Seliger never embraced large-scale works or the gestural and geometric styles typical of the movement. Instead, his commitment to nature and Surrealist automatism set him apart as a nonconformist. This individuality often results in his exclusion from Abstract Expressionism surveys, especially those emphasizing stylistic commonalities.
In 2010, a year after Seliger’s passing, his dealer Michael Rosenfeld curated Charles Seliger: A Memorial Exhibition. Since that time, his art has largely remained out of the spotlight. However, Charles Seliger: The Structure of Matter, A Centennial Exhibition at Hollis Taggart seeks to highlight the brilliance of this artist, who found allure in the unseen structures and motifs that define the visual world.
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