Join The Collection to save, track, and explore works like this.

Mark Grotjahn — "The “butterflies' are fairly planned out. They’re still intuitive, but I generally know where they’re going. It’s a different kind of freedom, a different kind of expressionism. It’s personal without being overly personal." Mark Grotjahn, 2003
Mark Grotjahn

"The “butterflies' are fairly planned out. They’re still intuitive, but I generally know where they’re going. It’s a different kind of freedom, a different kind of expressionism. It’s personal without being overly personal." Mark Grotjahn, 2003

Mark Grotjahn's intricate colored pencil work on paper showcases his signature "butterfly" compositions, where radiating lines of vivid color emanate symmetrically from central vanishing points, creating a sense of dynamic tension and optical depth. The work balances deliberate structure with expressive spontaneity, as Grotjahn carefully plans the overall framework while allowing intuitive mark-making to guide the layered, hand-drawn lines. The result is a deeply personal yet restrained form of expressionism, where the physicality of colored pencil on paper lends an intimate, tactile quality to the geometric abstraction.

Medium
colored pencil on paper
Location
Phillips, Salt Lake City, UT

🔨 Auction Lot

Contemporary Art Day Sale

May 17, 2013

Start the Discussion

Request access to join the discussion

Spotted works by Mark Grotjahn

About this work

Mark Grotjahn, "The “butterflies' are fairly planned out. They’re still intuitive, but I generally know where they’re going. It’s a different kind of freedom, a different kind of expressionism. It’s personal without being overly personal." Mark Grotjahn, 2003

Mark Grotjahn's intricate colored pencil work on paper showcases his signature "butterfly" compositions, where radiating lines of vivid color emanate symmetrically from central vanishing points, creating a sense of dynamic tension and optical depth. The work balances deliberate structure with expressive spontaneity, as Grotjahn carefully plans the overall framework while allowing intuitive mark-making to guide the layered, hand-drawn lines. The result is a deeply personal yet restrained form of expressionism, where the physicality of colored pencil on paper lends an intimate, tactile quality to the geometric abstraction.

Medium
colored pencil on paper
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Mohn Art Collective, Intuitive, Vibrant, American, Expressionism, Butterfly, Colored Pencil, Abstract, Contemporary

More works by Mark Grotjahn

Similar artists

Frank Stella, Tauba Auerbach, Bridget Riley

Collected by

Alex Capecelatro