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Jannis Varelas — Untitled
Jannis Varelas

Untitled

2017

Jannis Varelas's Untitled from 2017 presents an electrifying confluence of raw energy and carefully orchestrated chaos. This large-scale canvas, executed with oil, oil stick, pastel, collage, felt-tip marker, and gesso, showcases the artist's audacious command over diverse materials, layering them to create a rich, tactile surface. A riotous palette of intensely saturated yellows, reds, blues, and pinks dominates the composition, punctuated by stark blacks and whites. Bold, spontaneous gestures, from frantic scribbles to broad, confident strokes, imbue the work with a palpable sense of urgency and dynamism. Geometric blocks of color collide with organic forms, suggesting a fragmented landscape or an internal psychological space, all rendered with an unmistakable immediacy. Intriguing glimpses of found imagery, such as the prominent "Lipodren" label, are integrated into the painterly matrix. This inclusion acts as a subtle yet potent commentary on contemporary consumer culture and its pervasive influence, juxtaposing mass-produced imagery with the intensely personal act of painting. Varelas constructs a complex visual narrative where elements appear to emerge from and recede into the vibrant surface. A striking pink triangle anchors a central section, while swirling circles and radiating lines draw the eye across the expansive canvas, preventing any single point of focus. The work exemplifies Varelas’s signature approach, which often navigates the space between figuration and abstraction, drawing inspiration from everyday life, media, and personal experience to forge a distinctive, immediate aesthetic. This significant work stands as a vibrant example of contemporary painting that is both intellectually stimulating and viscerally engaging, making it a distinguished acquisition for any discerning collection.

Medium
Oil, oil stick, pastel, collage, felt-tip marker, gesso on canvas
Location
Wright, Chicago, United States

🔨 Auction Lot

Wright: 20|21 Art: The Chicago Edition (July 2022)

July 14, 2022

Estimate: $5,000 to $7,000

Lot 115

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About this work

Jannis Varelas, Untitled, 2017

Jannis Varelas's Untitled from 2017 presents an electrifying confluence of raw energy and carefully orchestrated chaos. This large-scale canvas, executed with oil, oil stick, pastel, collage, felt-tip marker, and gesso, showcases the artist's audacious command over diverse materials, layering them to create a rich, tactile surface. A riotous palette of intensely saturated yellows, reds, blues, and pinks dominates the composition, punctuated by stark blacks and whites. Bold, spontaneous gestures, from frantic scribbles to broad, confident strokes, imbue the work with a palpable sense of urgency and dynamism. Geometric blocks of color collide with organic forms, suggesting a fragmented landscape or an internal psychological space, all rendered with an unmistakable immediacy. Intriguing glimpses of found imagery, such as the prominent "Lipodren" label, are integrated into the painterly matrix. This inclusion acts as a subtle yet potent commentary on contemporary consumer culture and its pervasive influence, juxtaposing mass-produced imagery with the intensely personal act of painting. Varelas constructs a complex visual narrative where elements appear to emerge from and recede into the vibrant surface. A striking pink triangle anchors a central section, while swirling circles and radiating lines draw the eye across the expansive canvas, preventing any single point of focus. The work exemplifies Varelas’s signature approach, which often navigates the space between figuration and abstraction, drawing inspiration from everyday life, media, and personal experience to forge a distinctive, immediate aesthetic. This significant work stands as a vibrant example of contemporary painting that is both intellectually stimulating and viscerally engaging, making it a distinguished acquisition for any discerning collection.

Medium
Oil, oil stick, pastel, collage, felt-tip marker, gesso on canvas
Year
2017
Seen at
Wright, Chicago, United States

Related themes

Consumer Culture, European Artist, Figurative Abstract, Bold Color, Energetic Composition, Male Artist, Gestural Painting, Mixed Media, Urban Influence, Collage, Oil On Canvas, Psychological Space, Found Imagery, Expressive Mark Making, Multicolor, Greek Artist, Neo Expressionist, Abstract, Large Scale, Contemporary

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