Alfonso A. Ossorio (1916-1990) was an abstract expressionist artist. At age fourteen, he moved to the United States where he studied fine art at Harvard University and the Rhode Island School of Design. In the early 1950s, Ossorio was pouring oil and enamel paints onto canvas, bit it was Art brut opened up new vistas for Ossorio. He was an admirer and early collector of the paintings of Jackson Pollock who counted him as a good friend. On the advice of Pollack, Ossorio purchased an expansive 60-acre estate “The Creeks” in East Hampton in 1951, and lived there for more than forty years. In the 1950s, Ossorio began to create works resembling Dubuffet’s assemblages. He affixed shells, bones, driftwood, nails, dolls’ eyes, cabinet knobs, dice, costume jewelry, mirror shards, and children’s toys to the panel surface. Ossorio called these assemblages congregations, with the term’s obvious religious connotation. Ossorio died in New York City in 1990. Half his ashes were scattered at his grand estate The Creeks and the other half came to rest nine years later at Green River Cemetery alongside the remains of many other famous artists, writers and critics.

Description: Limited editon, 1 of 120 copies SIGNED BY LEWIS THOMAS & ALFONSO OSSORIO. Folding folio in publishers clam shell box, as issued. Verse by Lewis Thomas & 8 tissue guarded etchings by Alfonso Ossorio. Some wear to slip case edges, otherwise very good. Interior clean and bright. A beautiful edition. RARE!

Bookseller Inventory # 21776

SOLD

 Could I Ask You Something?
by  Lewis Thomas & Alfonso Ossorio

Publisher:  Whitney Museum of American Art
Publication Date:  1984
Binding:  Hard Bound
Book Condition:  Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition:  No Dust Jacket
Edition:  First Edition

· Category: Sold ·