


Untitled
1965
This compact painted fiberglass sculpture from 1965 places De Wain Valentine squarely within the experimental fervor of mid-century California abstraction, predating the large-scale resin works that would later define his reputation. The piece carries a sculptural presence well beyond its modest dimensions, with the fiberglass surface receiving paint in a manner that activates form and material simultaneously. Valentine's command of industrial fabrication techniques is already evident here, as the work bridges the gap between handmade process and the sleek, object-oriented ambitions that characterized the nascent Light and Space movement gathering momentum in Los Angeles at the time. Signed by the artist, this early work offers collectors a rare point of entry into Valentine's practice at a formative moment. The 1960s were a period of significant material experimentation across Southern California, and Valentine was among a handful of artists pushing synthetic materials into the realm of fine art sculpture, challenging traditional hierarchies of craft and medium. Fiberglass, associated primarily with industrial and commercial applications, becomes in his hands something resonant and considered, its surface holding light and color in ways that anticipate his later explorations with cast polyester resin. Works from this period of Valentine's career rarely appear on the market, making this signed example a meaningful acquisition for collectors focused on postwar American sculpture or the history of West Coast Minimalism and beyond. The piece is offered without a frame, as the freestanding sculptural form requires no such enclosure, and prospective buyers should plan to arrange independent shipping from the auction facility upon purchase.
- Medium
- Painted fiberglass
- Overall
- Signed
- Yes
- Spotted At
- Gallery · Rago/Wright/LAMA/Toomey & Co.
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