Jan Tips "Architectural Series #35" 1984 Mixed Media Abstract Diptych on Canvas

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This striking large-scale diptych from Jan Tips Rowe's "Architectural Series" immerses the viewer in a raw, tactile world where handmade … Read more This striking large-scale diptych from Jan Tips Rowe's "Architectural Series" immerses the viewer in a raw, tactile world where handmade paper transforms into something almost geological—evoking ancient rock faces, weathered urban walls, or the layered strata of memory itself. Created in 1984, the work pulses with deep, brooding purples and rusty reds that shift under light like desert stone at dusk, their surfaces built up in thick, expressive impasto textures that crack and fissure organically, revealing subtle veins of pale blue-gray beneath.

Geometric divisions slice across the two joined canvases: bold vertical and horizontal lines in luminous yellow-green and muted gray-purple act as glowing seams or architectural scaffolding, holding the chaotic energy in tense balance. A single, enigmatic crescent—"C"—emerges like an ancient glyph or shadowed archway, etched into the reddish expanse, drawing the eye deeper into the composition's mysterious narrative.

Rowe (1942–2021), a respected San Antonio artist, educator, and former art critic for the San Antonio Express-News, spent over five decades crafting abstract works that fused landscape references with the evocative power of memory. Married to fellow artist Reginald Rowe, she taught at institutions including UTSA and the San Antonio Art Institute, exhibiting widely in Texas and beyond. This piece, #35 in her Architectural Series, measures an commanding 47 inches high by 65 inches wide when hung together, its unframed, raw canvas edges and wooden stretchers adding to its sculptural presence.
The mixed media—painted handmade paper meticulously laid over canvas—creates dramatic raised textures that catch shadows and invite touch, while minor age-related cracking and edge patina lend authentic vintage character without detracting from its power. In very good condition overall, with light surface dust and no major damage, it stands ready to command a modern wall or loft space, infusing any interior with quiet intensity and timeless depth.

Dimensions:
Height: 47 in
Width: 65 in (combined)
Depth: ≈1.5 in

Materials: Mixed media (handmade paper, paint, gesso) on canvas
Style/Period: Abstract Expressionism, Mid-Century Modern, 1980s

Condition: Vintage/Used - Very Good (subtle edge wear, natural surface craquelure, and patina consistent with age) See less