Alexander Istrati

Alexandru Istrati (1915-1991) was an avant-garde painter who was awarded the Kandinsky Prize in 1953. His work is characterized by the application of blotches or splashes of color on canvas, associating him with Tachism. Istrati explored the raw physicality of painting, transforming his works into sculptural objects full of energy, rather than simple two-dimensional representations. His works have been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Musée d’Art Moderne and Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul de Vence, the Circle and Square Gallery in New York, the Gres Gallery in Washington D.C., and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, also in Washington D.C., among others.

Although Tachism was never a formally unified art movement, the term was used to describe artists from the mid to late 20th century whose works expressed intense emotions and universal themes. Artists who adopted this approach did not start with a preconceived idea, but simply began to paint, guided by instinct. Gestures, expressive mediums, and subconscious feelings guided their work. The meaning of their works was often explored and attached only after their completion.