The Evolution of Serial Abstraction
Guido Molinari was a Canadian artist recognized for his serial abstract paintings, characterized by a dynamic interplay of colors and a focus on modular shapes. His work often sought to create a fictional space that exists within the mind and involves the totality of perception. His celebrated Stripe series, created between 1963 and 1969, consisted of hard edge paintings featuring color in vertical bands of equal width placed on a flat picture plane.
As his practice evolved, Molinari moved into "checkerboard" paintings titled Structures, which divided verticals with horizontal lines. In 1971, he began bisecting each stripe to create a new format of triangles. His later explorations included the Quantificateur series and the Continuum series, which featured checkerboard paintings.
Life and Recognition
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Molinari was the son of a musician and a daughter of a sculptor. He began painting at age 13 and studied at the School of the Art Association of Montreal. His career included a solo exhibition at L'Échourie and the founding of Galerie L'Actuelle. His work has been exhibited in various international locations, including:
- New York
- Honolulu
- Berlin
- Ottawa
- Buenos Aires
Molinari's paintings are held in several prestigious collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the National Gallery of Canada. He was an Officer of the Order of Canada and received a Guggenheim Fellowship. He taught at Sir George Williams University and Concordia University for 27 years.
