Piece description from the artist
In the painting Oedipus Coloneus, the artist Peter Ivanoff has interpreted the fate of Oedipus. It is based upon the sculpture Oedipus Coloneus, 1996 in which the sculptor has created a monolithic white mountain which is to be scaled by a blue ladder. Ivanoff explores the tale of Oedipus who both married his mother and murdered his father, by the ancient playright Sophocles.
In the painting the deceptively simple forms are fraught with content. Ivanoff’s narrative concentrates on the moment of death when Oedipus transcends the web of his tragic earthly existence and becomes part of the pinnacle or mountain and ever so wonderfully, vanishes into thin air. In the painting, Oedipus becomes the mountain, the ladder becomes a road and the background, the void of the cosmos.
Peter Ivanoff spent most of his professional life, initially as an art director in advertising, then as a concept artist and designer
for advertising and marketing. In addition to making a living as a commercial artist,
throughout his career he has maintained a studio practice.
As a architecture student he was introduced to painting by the artist Gilbert Steed, (a color consultant for Bocour paints and a student of Hans Hoffman). He studied and was introduced to European Modernism by the photographer and painter, John Guttman, (a student of Otto Mueller) at SFSU. He also studied Life Drawing and Anatomy at the Art Student's League.
He earned his B.A. from SSU and an M.F.A from MICA (a highlight of which was his association with the late Salvatore Scarpitta). Currently, he lives and works in Palo Alto, CA.
A native of Wales, California-based artist Peter Ivanoff’s sculpture is all about going places. Crutches, ladders, plumbing fixtures, discarded furniture, and wheels deliver the message in his objects and installations. Driving this narrative, Ivanoff’s interest is in
our relationship with technology.
After the recent and ongoing wildfires, political turmoil and other disasters, his recent drawings, collages, and paintings have taken on an environmental and political shift. In these troubled times Ivanoff is presenting a much darker impression of California than for example, the artists David Hockney or Wayne Thiebaud.
Ivanoff’s techniques are purposely simple; collages are black India ink cut-outs
on Bristol and the paintings and works on paper are painted in acrylic.
An Art Advisor will get in touch with you today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your artwork needs.
Get Started
By
