SwissArtGallery · Documented identity
Frank Philip Stella (1936–2024), an American artist, conceives of the image as an object rather than as the representation of something. He sums up this position in a concise formula: “a flat surface with paint on it—nothing more”. From 1950 to 1954, he studied at Phillips Academy with the abstract painter Patrick Morgan, before pursuing studies in history at Princeton University.
Begun in 1958, the Black Paintings series is characterised by regular black bands separated by lines of canvas left visible. This arrangement makes the painted surface and the exposed canvas the constituent elements of the work. Some paintings from the series were presented in 1959 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, in the exhibition Sixteen Americans. Between 1970 and 1974, Polish Village marks a development in his practice: the series takes the form of large wall reliefs.
From 1985 to 1997, Stella developed a series around Moby Dick, Herman Melville’s novel. He made large aluminium reliefs, each inspired by one of the book’s 138 parts. Plutusia I is listed as number 86 in the exhibition Frank Stella, From Strictness to Baroque, presented at the IVAM in Valencia from 12 July to 14 October 2012. The exhibition catalogue reproduces the work in full-page colour on pages 66–67.
This profile brings together identity references for Frank Stella and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.
Germann · Piguet
References include catalogue entries and available results; they do not all represent completed sales. Attributed works and special lots are excluded from the priced results.
Mixed media on paper
"Olyka III"
technique mixte sur papier
Catalogue period : 2026-05-27 — 2026-06-10
Published result : 6000 CHF
Fees not specified in the available data
Estimate : CHF 6000–8000
View the lot at the auction house ↗Mixed media on paper
"Olyka III"
technique mixte sur papier
Catalogue period : 2026-03-05 — 2026-03-18
Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed
Estimate : CHF 6000–8000
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Mischtechnik. Öl, Harz, geformtes Papier auf Fiberglas.
Date to be documented
Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed
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Mischtechnik. Acryl, Harz, geformtes Papier und Fiberglas.
Date to be documented
Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed
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Mischtechnik. Acryl, Harz, geformtes Papier und Fiberglas.
Date to be documented
Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed
View the lot at the auction house ↗SwissArtGallery documentary note based on the cited sources. Titles, media and qualifications are provided in the profile language; the original catalogue wording remains available in each record.
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