About The Gallery
Modern and Contemporary Art
Artwork in all media
My interest in modern art began after seeing a cubist Picasso painting projected onto a screen when I was in elementary school. I was totally amazed, as I had never seen anything like it before! As with anything, the more you know about a subject, the greater your appreciation. Figurative representation began to lose all interest to me, as I explored deeper into the world of abstraction. From the color field works of Noland and Frankenthaler, to the childlike drawings of Twombly, and into the world of POP Art; I was forever taken deeper into the world of fine art trying to understand the history and appreciate all the nuances. I have been collecting and dealing fine art for over 30 years. My focus are twentieth century masters and I am pleased to be able to offer for sale original works of art by some of the world's most collected, appreciated, and greatest artists!
Animation Art
Original Production Drawings, Production Cels, and Backgrounds
One day I happened to wander into a frame shop that had just finished framing two animation cels from the Walt Disney film "Robin Hood." I asked what these were and had no idea that such a thing existed outside the Disney Studios; but right then I knew that I would forever be hooked as a collector. There was something so exciting about having the opportunity to own a piece of what made my childhood so happy. Watching Disney and Warner Bros. characters come alive in the theaters and on TV, was so wonderful; and now here was a chance to own a piece of that memory. I have now been collecting and dealing animation for over 30 years. My focus is on Walt Disney and I am pleased to be able to offer for sale original production animation cels, drawings, and backgrounds from the feature films and shorts. I also deal in many other animation studios, so enjoy browsing the site!
About Me
Gregory Lacks, Owner of Untitled Art Gallery
Contact me at: 5 Mine Bluff Court, Durham NC 27713 - (919) 906-7840 - greg@untitledartgallery.com
I am both a collector and dealer of fine art and animation and I am so excited to share my experience and excitement with you, through the creation of this Gallery! The Gallery is divided by Fine Artist's last name and Animation Artwork that is subdivided by Studio name, year, and film. I have created links (which can be found just below the description) for most of the works for sale, so please click on them to learn much more about that specific piece. I update this site very frequently, so please check back to see what's new. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments and I look forward to hearing from you.
Chouette (Wood Owl) Vase, 1969; Partially glazed white earthenware vase painted in colors; Numbered 105/500; Inscribed 'EDITION PICASSO' and 'R-148 MADOURA', with the 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' and the 'EDITION PICASSO' pottery stamps on the underside; Size - Wood Owl Vase: 11 3/4" x 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"; Catalogue Raisonne: A.R. 605.
During the late 1940s, Pablo Picasso spent the summers on the Cote d'Azur in the South of France. There the artist visited Vallauris for the annual pottery exhibition in 1946. He was impressed by the quality of the Madoura works and was introduced to the owners, Suzanne and Georges Ramié. The Ramiés welcomed the famous artist into their workshop and gave him access to all the tools and resources the he needed in order to work in the medium of ceramics. In exchange, the Ramié family would produce and sell his limited edition ceramic works and this relationship spanned 25 years. It was also at the Madoura factory in 1953 that Picasso met Jacqueline Roque, who would become his second wife in 1961.
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The Market for Picasso ceramics has been steadily rising as outlined by a recent article:
"Over the past 10 years, the market for Picasso ceramics has steadily grown, with seasoned collectors and new buyers alike vying for Picasso's editioned and unique ceramics at auction. This market is stable, with a steady high sell-through rate around 89% (87% in 2004, 89% in 2005, 87% in 2011, and 90% in 2012), and prices that are still lower than the rest of Picasso's work. The broad range of estimates and sales prices help make this market attractive to many collectors, but also explain the high average sales prices, which are skewed by a few exceptional pieces. In the previous two years, more than 60 exceptional ceramic works sold for over US$100,000: 34 in 2011 and 29 in 2012 (vs. six in 2004 and 2005)." - The Story Behind Picasso Ceramics, by Fanny Lakoubay and Conner Williams, 2013
The famed artist Georges Bloch stated of Picasso’s ceramic works:
"…in approach, material and technique is as novel as it is interesting. Pottery, gleaming white discs with relief designs, monochrome or brightly coloured ovals, dishes and even jugs and vases here serve as bearers of compositions whose themes express the joyous, life-loving side of Picasso’s work. They are printed from blocks and stamps fashioned by the master over a period of more than twenty years in the Madoura pottery workshop in Vallauris.”
From Charles Mathes's site valuethoughts.com:
"In 1946 Picasso was staying near Antibes in the South of France and decorating the walls of what would become the Musée Picasso. A small owl with an injured claw that had been found in a corner ended up living with him and his lover, Francois Gilot. According to Gilot in her book “Life With Picasso” the owl was an ill-tempered creature who smelled awful and ate only mice. The owl would snort at Picasso and bite his fingers; Picasso would reply with a string of obscenities just to show the bird who was the most ill-tempered. Clearly bad manners were the way to Picasso’s heart for not only did he do a number of paintings, drawings and prints of owls, he created numerous ceramics."
Picasso would use the owl in paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, and ceramics for the rest of his life. After Picasso's death, drawings were found that illustrate that the form used for the owl ceramics had been made during the time in 1946 when the wood owl first appeared
Video of Chouette (Wood Owl) Vase, 1969
in Picasso's atelier. This is a wonderful owl vase ceramic created in 1969, and the painting of the vessel is beautifully rendered in natural browns, black, and cream colors. The brushstrokes are consistent with free form feathers making up the wings, head, and feet. This is a spectacular piece of original Picasso artwork and a great addition for any art collection!
#Picasso #PabloPicasso #ceramic #Picassoceramic #Madoura #MadouraPottery #Vallauris #SuzanneRamie #GeorgesRamie #Ramie #JacquelineRoque #untitledartgallery #cubism #diaulos #diaulosplayer #faun #GeorgesBloch #Chouette #Owl #WoodOwl #FrancoisGilot
Original hand painted and hand inked production animation cel of Pinocchio from "Pinocchio," 1940, Walt Disney Studios; Set on a wood veneer Courvoisier background; With original Courvoisier Galleries label; Size - Pinocchio: 8 3/4 x 10 1/2", Image 12 x 12 1/2", Frame 25 x 22 1/2"; Framed with three acid free mats, gold wood frame, custom engraved brass title plaque, and plexiglass.
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Blue Fairy: "Why... Monsters? Weren't you afraid?"
Pinocchio: "No, ma'am, but they tied me in a big sack."
Blue Fairy: "You don't say!" And where was Sir Jiminy?"
Pinocchio: "They put him in a little sack."
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"Pinocchio," 1940 was the second animated feature film produced by Disney, and followed on the success of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." 1937. It was released to theaters by RKO Radio Pictures on February 23, 1940 and was based on the Italian children's novel "The Adventures of Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi. The general plot of the film involves an old wood-carver named Geppetto, who carves a wooden puppet that he names Pinocchio. One night the puppet is brought to life by the Blue Fairy, who informs him that he can become a real boy if he proves himself to be "brave, truthful, and unselfish". Pinocchio's journey to become a real boy is challenged by his encounters with an array of scrupulous characters.
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"Pinocchio" became the first animated feature to win an Academy Award; it won for both Best Music - Original Score and for Best Music - Original Song
for "When You Wish Upon A Star." Most critics and audiences agree that "Pinocchio" is among the finest Disney features ever made, and one of the greatest animated films of all time. In 1994, it was added to the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
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Due to the huge success of "Snow White," Walt Disney wanted more famous voice actors for "Pinocchio." He cast popular singer Cliff Edwards (who had made the first record selling over a million copies) as Jiminy Cricket. Disney also wanted the character of Pinocchio to be voiced by a real child. The role ended up going to twelve year old actor Dickie Jones, who had previously been in Frank Capra's enormous Hollywood hit, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
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This is an extremely large original hand painted and hand inked production animation cel of Pinocchio set on a wood veneer Courvoisier background. The painted cel is an amazing 8 3/4 x 10 1/2", making it one of the largest portrait cels of Pinocchio to exist outside of Disney Archives! The cel is from one of the greatest scenes in the film, which occurs after Pinocchio has become Stromboli's star attraction as a marionette who is able to sing and dance without strings. Pinocchio wants to go home, but Stromboli locks him inside of a birdcage. Jiminy Cricket arrives to try and help him, but is unable to free Pinocchio from the cage. Suddenly the Blue Fairy appears, and asks Pinocchio why he is not in school. Although Jiminy urges Pinocchio to tell the truth, he starts telling lies; which causes his nose to grow longer and longer. This cel is from that famous scene when Pinocchio is telling the Blue Fairy that Jiminy was put into a little sack by two big monsters with green eyes. Pinocchio's nose grows longer, and now even has small leaves sprouting from the tip. This is a wonderful cel from the most famous scene in the film, and would make a great addition to any serious animation art collection! The complete dialog for the scene is below:
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Blue Fairy: "Pinocchio, why didn't you go to school?"
Pinocchio: "I was going to school till I met somebody."
Blue Fairy: "Met somebody?"
Pinocchio: "Yeah. Two big monsters... with big, green eyes."
Blue Fairy: "Why... Monsters? Weren't you afraid?"
Pinocchio: "No, ma'am, but they tied me in a big sack."
Blue Fairy: "You don't say!" And where was Sir Jiminy?"
Pinocchio: "Oh. Jiminy?"
Jiminy Cricket: "Leave me out of this."
Pinocchio: "They put him in a little sack."
Blue Fairy: "No!"
Pinocchio: "Yeah!"
#Pinocchio #JiminyCricket #CliffEdwards #BlueFairy #Geppetto #WaltDisney #Disney #untitledartgallery #animation #animationart #cel #animationdrawing #productiondrawing #DickieJones #MiltKahl #FrankThomas #OllieJohnston #Bach #SandyStrother #JoeGrant #HamiltonLuske #Jiminy #Courvoisier #CourvoisierGalleries
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Be A Somebody With A Body, 1985; Acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas; Dedicated, dated, and signed 'JOHN 85 Andy Warhol' verso on the overlap; Stamped with the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board, Inc., stamp and numbered 'A122.0911' on the overlap; Size - Canvas: 8" x 10", Frame 14 3/4" x 18 3/4"; Framed using a black wood frame.
"Muscles are great. Everybody should have at least one they can show off." - Andy Warhol
In the 1970's Andy Warhol was aware of new trend emerging, as he said "So many people have such great bodies today that the sort of lumpy sit around the house flab that used to be normal now looks really bad. You can't go anyplace in America without seeing boys and girls and men and women who look like they have been professional athletes their entire lives." The 1976 symposium at the Whitney Museum entitled "Articulate Muscle: The Male Body in Art" was a presentation of three Mr. Universe types Frank Zane, Ed Corney, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The event was inspired by Charles Gaines, who's popular book "Pumping Iron" was the first serious book written about body building. Gaines helped to persuade the Whitey that the muscular bodies should be seen, not in athletic
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terms, but rather as living works of artistic creation. Schwarzenegger knew Warhol and stated "I became very good friends with Andy Warhol and used to hang out at the Studio in the seventies because he was a big believer in bodybuilding (and like other hip celebrities) helped get bodybuilding out of the dungeon to make it a hip activity to do." The Whitney show would have certainly been of interest to Warhol who had always been interested in transformation as depicted in his early painting "Before and After." The painting was based on a small advertisement for a plastic surgeon that ran in the National Enquirer in early 1961, and depicts a woman's nose before and after a nose job. The 1980's saw in increase in both gym membership and body building; as being seen as a way to achieve morphological perfection. At the same time Arnold Schwarzenegger had become a major Hollywood star, and Warhol would have realized Schwarzenegger had become somebody with a body!
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In the 1980's Andy Warhol began a series of primarily black and white ad paintings whose source material was derived from advertisements, maps, diagrams, and illustrations found in newspapers and magazines. For Warhol, this was a return to lowbrow print subject matter that he had utilized in the 1960's and at the same time served as artistic commentary on American consumer culture. He kept to a monochromatic palette of black and white, thereby retaining the origin and style of the original advertisements.
"Be A Somebody With A Body" was originally adapted from an ad placed in a muscle magazine. Warhol kept the bold graphic text but added thick and fluid brushstrokes. The lettering played against an illustrative confident muscle figure that seems both accessible and yet most likely an improbable realization. The block text is declarative in it's stark black and white, laid bare on the canvas, and allows the viewer to focus on the explicit visual language of the artist. The mechanical printed text with the surrounded brushstrokes allows for a blend between man and machine; thereby subverting the distinction between painting and photographic reproduction. The meaning of the text is an explicit pressure to conform, from a nobody to a somebody, simply by attaining a muscular bodybuilder physique. Warhol, throughout his artistic career, was a master of satirizing commercialization. He also was interested in mass conformation noting "What's great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. You can be watching TV and see Coca-Cola, and you can know that the President drinks Coke, Liz Taylor drinks Coke, and just think, you can drink Coke too."
This particular painting was dedicated to John Reinhold who was a diamond dealer, art collector and a friend of Andy Warhol. One day John gave Warhol a jar of diamond dust, suggesting he could incorporate it into his artwork; which lead to the Diamond Dust series for both prints and paintings. John Reinhold's wife Susan co-founded the Reinhold-Brown Gallery, and Warhol painted portraits of John Reinhold and his and Susan's ten year old daughter Berkeley. In 1981 Warhol gave Berkeley an 80 page leather-bound diary. On each page was drawn abstract forms that slowly progress and develop page-by-page into a beautiful dollar sign. In 2010 Rizzoli published a reproduction of the diary in book form entitled "Andy Warhol: Making Money."
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With this image of "Be A Somebody With A Body," Warhol created a Reversal of his initial composition by having the black and white tones switched. He had previously employed this technique with some of one of his most famous works, including his iconic portrait of Marylin Monroe. For this painting the resulting image appears as if the spectator were looking at a photographic negative. The highlighted face, body, and text have gone dark; and former shadows and highlights now rush forward in bold stark forms. The resulting effect is powerful and is able to further activate the painting at a higher level. This is an absolutely fantastic unique work on canvas by the great Pop artist Andy Warhol and would be a great addition to any art collection!
#Warhol #AndyWarhol #PopArt #WarholFoundation #UniqueWarhol #UniqueAndyWarhol #BobColacello #BeASomebodyWithABody #SomebodyWithABody #BodyBuilder #JohnReinhold #WarholAuthenticated #untitledartgallery #ArnoldSchwarzenegger #WarholPainting #DiamondDust