1958 Mixed Media Painting on Paper by James Spencer Russell

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A 1958 mixed media work by the American artist James Spencer Russell (1915-2000). This intricate work creates an abstract design … Read more A 1958 mixed media work by the American artist James Spencer Russell (1915-2000). This intricate work creates an abstract design by layering sand, charcoal, and paint. Displayed in a black frame and black mat, this work is signed and dated to the lower right.

Born in Monticello, Indiana, Russell was interested in art from a young age but was directed into pursuing a military career by his family. As a young person, he attended a military academy, became a celebrated codebreaker during WWII, and even received a scholarship to attend West Point. However, Russell's interest in art eventually led him to abandon his military pursuits and try to make it in the art world instead. After working as an NBC set designer after WWII, he turned his attention to becoming a full-time artist. During the 1960s, he started exhibiting his works alongside artists who would later come to characterize the art scene at the time, including Robert Rauschenberg and Roy Lichtenstein. He later moved back to Indiana where he continued to create art until his death in 2000. See less