A Signed Mid-Century Glistening Abstract Painting of the Cosmos, by Lemmy

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This striking painting is a mid-century modernist work by the Malaysian-American avant-garde artist Lemmy (1940–1987). The painting depicts an atmospheric, … Read more This striking painting is a mid-century modernist work by the Malaysian-American avant-garde artist Lemmy (1940–1987). The painting depicts an atmospheric, vast outer-space nebula or star field. Measuring an expansive 33"h x 43"w unframed, it is an excellent example of Lemmy’s experimental style from the 1960s and 1970s San Francisco art scene.

ARTIST: The back of the panel features a very distinct, authentic dual signature that confirms the artist's identity. Painted above his name is the Chinese character 林 (Lín), which translates directly to "forest" or "woods." This represents the artist's Chinese ancestry and served as his deliberate personal stamp.

Born in Ipoh, Malaysia, Lemmy emigrated to the United States and became a notable fixture in the West Coast avant-garde movement. His work is respected enough to be held in institutional collections, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).

TECHNIQUE: Lemmy was highly regarded for his fluid, biomorphic process. In this piece, he utilized layered, controlled splatters of white, coral, pink, and bright blue pigments over a deep, dark midnight-blue and violet ground. Rather than sitting flatly on the surface, the density of the splatters shifts to give the illusion of gaseous cosmic clouds and distant galaxies swelling out from a deep, infinite void.

MATERIAL: The artwork is executed on a rigid Masonite panel, which Lemmy frequently preferred for supporting his chosen heavy, poured or layered mediums. Rather than standard canvas acrylics or oils, Lemmy utilized a highly custom, biomorphic "fluid art" technique, incorporating a viscous, high-gloss clear resin and lacquer base that allowed his colors to remain suspended. The paint pigments were meticulously poured directly into a wet pool of the darker background medium. The distinct chemical reaction between the different lacquer densities is what naturally created those organic, cell-like edges and scattered "star burst" boundaries where the colors push against one another. This created a glass-like finish with immense visual depth, mimicking the vastness of outer space.

Signature/Maker’s Mark: Verso (photo #7) Unframed dimensions: 33 inches high x 43 inches wide. See less