110: ULFERT WILKE (1907-1987) ACRYLIC AND INK ON PAPER

Ulfert S. Wilke (1907-1987)
Red Symbols on White (1972)
The arrangement of abstracted symbols in black ink and red acrylics on paper is signed lower right.

Ulfert Wilke was a German born artist who came to the United States in 1938. He studied at Harvard and the University of Iowa, where he went on to became an influential figure throughout the Midwest arts community, serving as artist, educator and curator. His biography includes work as teacher and director at various universities and museums. In 1969, he became founding director of the University of Iowa Museum of Art and was instrumental in the museum's acquisition of their cornerstone piece: Jackson Pollock's Mural from 1943.

His work is characterized and inspired by his fascination with the aesthetics of the written characters used in languages and sign systems, calligraphy in particular, which he studied for a time in Japan. His interpretation of these ancient practices is compositions that are a profusion of abstracted symbols floating in organized interplay on the paper.
Image measures 20.5 x 10.5, sheet is 28.25 x 20, and frame is 31.25 x 22.75 inches.
Obviously the condition is very good, very clean, intact, no visible stain, damage, repair, punctures or tears. This work has not been examined outside the frame. The sheet is mildly wavy as shown.
$500 - $1,000