Tarmo Pasto (1906-1986), "The Wave"
Tarmo Pasto
(1906-1986)
"The Wave"
Oil on canvas
Signed lower center: Tarmo Pasto; titled and inscribed in pencil "#27" on the stretcher
36 x 44 in.
Provenance:
Estate of the artist
Other Notes:
This work is sold in a frame handmade and painted by the artist.
Tarmo Pasto, a noted psychologist and art professor, was also a prolific painter who frequently exhibited his paintings during his lifetime. Born in Estonia in 1906, Pasto immigrated to the United States, where he pursued his education and became a professor at Sacramento State College.
As an artist, Pasto's paintings are known for their expressionistic style, marked by bold colors and dramatic forms. Pasto believed that understanding the psychological aspects of perception and mental states could deepen the artistic process. Many of his pieces reflect his dual fascination with the human psyche and visual expression. Furthermore, Pasto was a key figure in a circle of artists working in and around the Sacramento area during the post-war period. This loose coalition of artists, which includes figures such as Mel Ramos, Wayne Thiebaud, and Jack Ogden, is known for exhibiting their work at institutions such as the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA, which holds examples of Pasto's work in its permanent collection.
In psychology, Pasto is best known for his role in discovering and promoting the work of the so-called "Outsider" artist Martin Ramirez. Ramirez was a self-taught Mexican artist who created intricate and mesmerizing works while confined in mental health institutions. Pasto recognized the unique value of Ramirez's art, advocating for its display and helping to bring it to the art world's attention. This advocacy not only highlighted the creative potential of those considered "Outsiders" in traditional art circles but also emphasized the therapeutic and communicative potential of art for those experiencing mental illness.
In 1986, four years after a retrospective at the Crocker Art Museum, Tarmo Pasto died and left behind a large body of work that has remained unseen by subsequent generations of viewers. Pasto's legacy endures as an advocate for the intersection of art and psychology. His dual impact on these fields continues to influence artists, psychologists, and educators alike, as his work demonstrates that the boundaries between disciplines can be both fluid and enriching.
Condition
Visual: Faint scattered craquelure, with minor, faint crazing in places within the brown paint. An area of scattered pinpoint-sized scuffs measuring 1 x 1 inch overall in the lower left corner. Varnish discoloration. Blacklight: No evidence of restoration. Frame: 42 1/2 x 50 3/4 x 1 1/2 in.Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.
Tarmo Pasto
(1906-1986)
"The Wave"
Oil on canvas
Signed lower center: Tarmo Pasto; titled and inscribed in pencil "#27" on the stretcher
36 x 44 in.
Provenance:
Estate of the artist
Other Notes:
This work is sold in a frame handmade and painted by the artist.
Tarmo Pasto, a noted psychologist and art professor, was also a prolific painter who frequently exhibited his paintings during his lifetime. Born in Estonia in 1906, Pasto immigrated to the United States, where he pursued his education and became a professor at Sacramento State College.
As an artist, Pasto's paintings are known for their expressionistic style, marked by bold colors and dramatic forms. Pasto believed that understanding the psychological aspects of perception and mental states could deepen the artistic process. Many of his pieces reflect his dual fascination with the human psyche and visual expression. Furthermore, Pasto was a key figure in a circle of artists working in and around the Sacramento area during the post-war period. This loose coalition of artists, which includes figures such as Mel Ramos, Wayne Thiebaud, and Jack Ogden, is known for exhibiting their work at institutions such as the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA, which holds examples of Pasto's work in its permanent collection.
In psychology, Pasto is best known for his role in discovering and promoting the work of the so-called "Outsider" artist Martin Ramirez. Ramirez was a self-taught Mexican artist who created intricate and mesmerizing works while confined in mental health institutions. Pasto recognized the unique value of Ramirez's art, advocating for its display and helping to bring it to the art world's attention. This advocacy not only highlighted the creative potential of those considered "Outsiders" in traditional art circles but also emphasized the therapeutic and communicative potential of art for those experiencing mental illness.
In 1986, four years after a retrospective at the Crocker Art Museum, Tarmo Pasto died and left behind a large body of work that has remained unseen by subsequent generations of viewers. Pasto's legacy endures as an advocate for the intersection of art and psychology. His dual impact on these fields continues to influence artists, psychologists, and educators alike, as his work demonstrates that the boundaries between disciplines can be both fluid and enriching.
Condition
Visual: Faint scattered craquelure, with minor, faint crazing in places within the brown paint. An area of scattered pinpoint-sized scuffs measuring 1 x 1 inch overall in the lower left corner. Varnish discoloration. Blacklight: No evidence of restoration. Frame: 42 1/2 x 50 3/4 x 1 1/2 in.Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.
