First Look; Second Chance Always; and Third Time Lucky
Javier Calleja's triptych of hand colored etchings presents a narrative arc suggested by their sequential titles, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of perception, redemption, and fortune through repetition and variation. The artist combines traditional printmaking techniques with delicate watercolor and pencil embellishments on premium Arches paper, creating a layered aesthetic that bridges classical etching methods with contemporary sensibilities. The preservation of full margins underscores the artist's respect for the paper as an integral compositional element rather than merely a support surface.
- Medium
- Three etchings with hand-coloring in watercolour and pencil, on Arches paper, with full margins.
- Location
- Phillips, Salt Lake City, UT
- Spotted At
- Auction House · PhillipsView on map
🔨 Auction Lot
Editions
March 28, 2025
Lot 79
Artists in conversation
Yoshitomo Nara
Japanese · b. 1959
Nara creates figurative works featuring whimsical childlike characters rendered with deceptively simple lines, often combining printmaking and hand applied color in ways that echo Calleja's playful yet emotionally layered aesthetic and sequential narrative approach.
KAWS
American · b. 1974
KAWS bridges street art sensibilities with fine art printmaking traditions, producing limited edition works on quality papers that share Calleja's fusion of contemporary pop figurative imagery with classical printmaking techniques and hand finishing.
Gary Baseman
American · b. 1960
Baseman produces mixed media figurative works featuring quirky characters with a whimsical and slightly melancholic narrative quality, combining traditional drawing techniques with vibrant hand applied color in a way that closely mirrors Calleja's triptych format and thematic storytelling.
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