Lee Mullican (American, 1919-1998), Hungry Ghosts (Title Page), 1964–1965 Color
Lee Mullican (American, 1919–1998) was an Oklahoma-born California painter and printmaker associated with the Dynaton group, a short-lived but influential San Francisco circle formed with Gordon Onslow Ford and Wolfgang Paalen. His work combined abstraction, pattern, nature, mapping, Surrealist automatism, and spiritual interests, with James Cohan noting that his art developed apart from the more heroic gesture of East Coast Abstract Expressionism. His work is held in major collections including SFMOMA, the Hammer Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, LACMA, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Hungry Ghosts (Title Page), 1964–1965, is a color lithograph from stone and aluminum printed in transparent blue and blue-black on white Arches paper. Printed by Kenneth Tyler and published by the Tamarind Lithography Workshop, Los Angeles, it introduces Mullican’s portfolio of ten image plates with title and colophon leaves. The composition places a compact cluster of fanciful figures and circular forms against a luminous blue field, with wandering dotted lines carrying the eye around the sheet. The printed text reads “Hungry Ghosts / ten lithographs / Lee Mullican” near the center. Inscribed in graphite “Tamarind Imp.” lower left, denoting a workshop impression retained by Tamarind, and signed “Lee Mullican” lower right, with Tamarind and Kenneth Tyler blindstamps along the lower margin. Pencil notations “S-46” and “1221” appear on the verso. Sheet measures approximately 18 x 15 inches. Overall good appearance. Light toning with minor handling and slight irregularity along the deckled lower edge, including a small notch, and a remnant of mounting tape along the upper edge verso. Colors remain strong and the image presents well. Provenance of Martin and Enid Gleich.
Condition
Please review the photos for a complete understanding of condition.
Dimensions
18 x 15 in
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
Lee Mullican (American, 1919–1998) was an Oklahoma-born California painter and printmaker associated with the Dynaton group, a short-lived but influential San Francisco circle formed with Gordon Onslow Ford and Wolfgang Paalen. His work combined abstraction, pattern, nature, mapping, Surrealist automatism, and spiritual interests, with James Cohan noting that his art developed apart from the more heroic gesture of East Coast Abstract Expressionism. His work is held in major collections including SFMOMA, the Hammer Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, LACMA, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Hungry Ghosts (Title Page), 1964–1965, is a color lithograph from stone and aluminum printed in transparent blue and blue-black on white Arches paper. Printed by Kenneth Tyler and published by the Tamarind Lithography Workshop, Los Angeles, it introduces Mullican’s portfolio of ten image plates with title and colophon leaves. The composition places a compact cluster of fanciful figures and circular forms against a luminous blue field, with wandering dotted lines carrying the eye around the sheet. The printed text reads “Hungry Ghosts / ten lithographs / Lee Mullican” near the center. Inscribed in graphite “Tamarind Imp.” lower left, denoting a workshop impression retained by Tamarind, and signed “Lee Mullican” lower right, with Tamarind and Kenneth Tyler blindstamps along the lower margin. Pencil notations “S-46” and “1221” appear on the verso. Sheet measures approximately 18 x 15 inches. Overall good appearance. Light toning with minor handling and slight irregularity along the deckled lower edge, including a small notch, and a remnant of mounting tape along the upper edge verso. Colors remain strong and the image presents well. Provenance of Martin and Enid Gleich.
Condition
Please review the photos for a complete understanding of condition.
Dimensions
18 x 15 in
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
