the collector's folio

David Salle Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by David Salle our visitors look at most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide David Salle · born 1952

To Be Titled

Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art, İstanbul · original 153 x 184 cm

A vibrant interplay of abstract circular motifs and still life wine glasses defines this intriguing postmodern masterpiece by David Salle, inviting you to explore the layered complexity of this unique contemporary work.

View the most popular artwork of David Salle ranked #1: To Be Titled

Art Movement: Postmodernism

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17533 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$965184 × 153 cm Commission at original size

Flying down

Color Palette: Warm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled by David Salle

1991 · original 46 x 59 cm

View the most popular artwork of David Salle ranked #3: Untitled

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17536 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$22659 × 46 cm Commission at original size

Old bottles

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

David Salle: The Raphael - VII

Explore 'The Raphael - VII' by David Salle – a haunting monochromatic print blending expressionism & surrealism. Layered lines evoke emotion & turmoil in this unique work.

View the most popular artwork of David Salle ranked #5: The Raphael - VII

Art Movement: Postmodern
Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17534 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

The raphael - v

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17535 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

The Raphael - II by David Salle

View the most popular artwork of David Salle ranked #7: The Raphael - II

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20035 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (255)

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17526 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (855)

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17527 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (713), David Salle

View the most popular artwork of David Salle ranked #10: Untitled (713)

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17526 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (583), David Salle

View the most popular artwork of David Salle ranked #11: Untitled (583)

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (245)

Explore David Salle’s "Untitled (245)", a layered pop art collage of surreal portraits & historical figures. Chaotic yet captivating, this unique artwork blends chaos and beauty.

Art Movement: Pop Art
Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$32535 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (631)

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20035 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Mingus

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Angels in the Rain

Explore 'Angels in the Rain' by David Salle – a layered neo-expressionist masterpiece blending pop culture & art history. See angels, cyclists & abstract chaos!

Art Movement: Postmodern

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20037 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Bigger rack

Explore David Salle’s ‘Bigger Rack,’ a layered collage blending pop & surrealism. Vibrant colors, fragmented imagery, & decadent themes – a captivating postmodern masterpiece.

Art Movement: Postmodern

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20036 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

David Salle: Que Penses-Tu - Beau Sphinx

Explore David Salle’s ‘Que Penses-Tu - Beau Sphinx,’ a captivating diptych of realistic oil paintings blending pop & art history. Discover layered imagery & evocative themes.

View the most popular artwork of David Salle ranked #17: Que Penses-Tu - Beau Sphinx

Art Movement: Postmodern

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20033 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (904)

David Salle’s ‘Untitled (904)’ blends Surrealism & Pop Art with layered imagery of masked figures & a nude form. Explore this complex, dreamlike collage on canvas.

Art Movement: Postmodern

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$22533 × 30 cm Commission this artwork

Float, David Salle

Delve into David Salle's 'Float,' a captivating surrealist painting blending pop art and figuration. Experience swirling chaos, enigmatic symbols & layered textures.

View the most popular artwork of David Salle ranked #19: Float

Art Movement: Postmodernism
Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$22537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Float – David Salle

2005 · Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

This surrealist postmodern painting by David Salle features a swirling vortex of figures and symbols. Explore this captivating masterpiece now.

View the most popular artwork of David Salle ranked #20: Float

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Intact Feeling – David Salle

1984 · Städel Museum, Frankfurt · original 305.0 x 213.0cm

View the most popular artwork of David Salle ranked #21: Intact Feeling

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17525 × 41 cm Commission this artwork

Mirror (Blue)

original 134 x 150 cm

A captivating postmodern composition of fragmented apple scenes and blue depth by David Salle invites you to explore the intricate layers of this striking contemporary masterpiece for your private collection.

View the most popular artwork of David Salle ranked #22: Mirror (Blue)

Art Movement: Postmodernism

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17531 × 32 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$732134 × 150 cm Commission at original size

Untitled (803)

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17539 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (616)

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17535 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (984)

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 74 artworks by David Salle
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17540 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

David Salle

born 1952

Quick facts

Works on APS74
NationalityUnited States of America
Born1952, Norman, United States of America
Top-ranked workTo Be Titled
Corpus themesneo-expressionism
Color intensitybalanced, vivid
Art periodContemporary
Top 3 worksTo Be Titled, Flying down, Untitled

Biography

David Salle: Architect of the Fragmented Image

David Salle, born in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1952, is a pivotal figure in the landscape of postmodern painting. His work isn’t easily categorized—he’s been associated with neo-expressionism, simulacrum, bad painting, and new image painting—yet transcends these labels through his singular approach to visual language. Salle's career has unfolded as a fascinating dialogue between high art and popular culture, meticulously constructed layers of imagery that challenge traditional notions of authorship and narrative. He’s not simply assembling images; he’s building complex systems of reference, inviting the viewer into an intricate web of associations and questioning the very nature of representation.

Salle's early artistic development was profoundly shaped by his time at the California Institute of the Arts, where he studied under John Baldessari. This mentorship proved crucial, exposing him to a radical approach that prioritized process over product—a philosophy that would become central to Salle’s own practice. He began experimenting with cinematic techniques, notably montage and split-screen presentation, reflecting a fascination with the fragmented nature of contemporary media. Moving to New York City in 1976, he quickly established himself within the vibrant art scene, initially working for Vito Acconci and collaborating with Karole Armitage on stage design, further honing his skills in visual composition and layering.

The Language of Juxtaposition

At the heart of Salle’s artistic vision lies a masterful manipulation of juxtaposition. His paintings are not unified compositions but rather carefully orchestrated collisions of disparate imagery—a technique he himself describes as “collage painting.” He draws upon an astonishingly diverse range of sources: historical art masterpieces, advertising campaigns, comic books, fashion photography, and even pornographic magazines (an early influence that continues to subtly inform his work). This isn’t random assemblage; each element is deliberately placed within the context of the others, creating a dynamic tension between familiarity and strangeness.

Salle's process often begins with photographs—a collection he meticulously curates, reflecting his interest in capturing fleeting moments and visual details. He then builds upon these images, adding layers of paint, text, and other elements until the composition feels complete. Crucially, Salle rejects any attempt at a singular narrative or dominant theme. Instead, he embraces ambiguity, allowing the viewer to construct their own interpretations from the complex interplay of imagery. This deliberate lack of closure is characteristic of postmodernism—a rejection of grand narratives in favor of fragmented perspectives.

Influences and Style

Salle’s artistic lineage is remarkably broad, drawing inspiration from a vast array of sources spanning centuries and disciplines. He cites the influence of Baroque masters like Velázquez and Bernini, Romantic painters such as Géricault, Impressionists like Cézanne, Expressionists like Solan Selame, Surrealists like Magritte and Giacometti, and Pop artists like Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. Furthermore, he acknowledges a significant debt to Francis Picabia, particularly in his use of compositional elements and the exploration of visual paradoxes.

His style is instantly recognizable—a deliberate embrace of imperfection and “bad painting.” Salle actively rejects traditional notions of skill and virtuosity, celebrating the accidental and the flawed. This isn’t a sign of carelessness; rather, it's a conscious strategy to disrupt expectations and challenge the viewer’s assumptions about art. The slightly clumsy brushwork, the uneven surfaces, and the seemingly random placement of elements contribute to a sense of immediacy and authenticity—as if the painting has emerged from a chaotic, overflowing studio.

Key Works and Legacy

Several works stand out as particularly significant examples of Salle’s artistic vision. “Smoke” (1983), for instance, captures the frenetic energy of urban life through a fragmented composition of figures and objects. "Untitled (655)" showcases his ability to seamlessly blend high and low imagery, while "Float" exemplifies his exploration of surrealist themes and layered textures. His series of paintings during the COVID-19 pandemic, “Tree of Life,” offers a poignant reflection on contemporary anxieties and cultural references.

David Salle’s impact on contemporary art is undeniable. He demonstrated that painting could be both visually arresting and intellectually challenging—a powerful antidote to the prevailing trends of minimalism and conceptualism. His work continues to inspire artists today, pushing the boundaries of representation and inviting us to reconsider our relationship with image and meaning. Salle's legacy lies not in creating easily digestible narratives but in fostering a dynamic dialogue between past and present, high art and popular culture—a testament to the enduring power of visual language.

Questions & Answers

Can I explore David Salle's works by keyword?

The By Keywords page of David Salle groups the artist's artworks by their keywords.

Where can I see David Salle's artworks in a 3D gallery?

The 3D Museum of David Salle is a page that displays the artist's artworks in a virtual three-dimensional gallery.

Can I browse David Salle's works by medium?

David Salle's works can be browsed by medium on the artist's All Medium page.

By the ArtsDot.com Editorial Team Updated Oct. 11, 2026

Collector's quiz

David Salle is primarily associated with which art movement?
Which technique is MOST characteristic of David Salle's painting style?
Salle’s early work involved overlaying images. Where did he initially source many of these images from?
Which artist significantly influenced David Salle's approach to image combination and collage techniques?
What is a key feature of David Salle’s paintings regarding narrative?

one You choose the size

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two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

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