John Warren Ekstrom, Abstract Expressionism

Paintings, 1950s - 1970s


November 20th - December 31st, 2024

John Warren Ekstrom was born in Chicago, IL in 1929. In 1947, he began his studies at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 1952. Ekstrom served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952-1954. After returning from the Air Force, Ekstrom enrolled at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, on the G.I. Bill, receiving his Master’s degree in 1957. In 1962, Ekstrom moved to Paris and Munich with his family, sharing a studio with his mentor, artist Lee Chesney. He returned to the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana from 1972-1973 and became a long-time instructor in art department of Parkland College in Champain-Urbana, teaching there from 1979 to 2001.

Ekstrom exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1955, The Brooklyn Museum in 1960 and at the Arts Club of Chicago, among others.

His work is largely Abstract Expressionist in nature, with bold strokes and colors. Ekstrom said about his work, “One of the most important constants in my work is “I am a finder.” I find and react to interesting things that happen along the way, that is to say, in the process of making art. Practically that means I try to extend those beginning stages so I can find any exciting accidental effect that might occur. I feel this is the major source of my creativity. It probably happens less so when working realistically, but even then you have several degrees of freedom.”

In 2020, Ekstrom died in Urbana, IL at the age of 90.

  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    65 x 65 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20956
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1970s
    Oil on canvas
    78 x 65 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20961
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on Masonite
    48 x 54 1/2 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20945
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1970s
    Oil on canvas
    64 1/4 x 51 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20964
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    64 x 64 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20952
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    57 1/2 x 57 1/2 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20954
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1959
    Oil on Masonite
    60 x 30 inches

    Signed Ekstrom, lower right; estate stamped on reverse

    #20949
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Still Life, 1954
    Oil on Masonite
    40 x 30 inches

    Signed Ekstrom, lower right; signed, dated and estate stamped on reverse

    #20924
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Green and Yellow, ca. 1957
    Oil on Masonite, in original frame
    36 x 40 inches

    Signed Ekstrom, lower right; titled on label on reverse

    #20940
  • Installation View
    Gallery Exhibition
    #6
  • Installation View
    Gallery Exhibition
    #1
  • Installation View
    Gallery Exhibition
    #2
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1950s
    Oil on Masonite
    48 x 29 3/4 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20921
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Still Life, 1955
    Oil on canvas, in artist's original frame
    28 x 38 inches

    Signed and dated Ekstrom 55, on reverse

    #20969
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1950s
    Oil on Masonite
    28 x 42 3/4 inches

    Signed Ekstrom, lower right; estate stamped on reverse

    #20950
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    65 x 65 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20957
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on Masonite
    48 x 48 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20942
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on Masonite
    48 x 48 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20943
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on Masonite
    60 x 48 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20944
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1950s
    Oil on Masonite
    36 x 48 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20932
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on Masonite
    48 x 48 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20941
  • Installation View
    Gallery Exhibition
    #8
  • Installation View
    Gallery Exhibition
    #5
  • Installation View
    Gallery Exhibition
    #3
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on Masonite
    60 x 48 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20947
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1950s
    Oil on Masonite
    48 x 30 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20926
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    76 3/4 x 51 1/4 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20955
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    57 1/2 x 44 3/4 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20965
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    63 1/2 x 63 1/2 inches
    #20958
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    63 3/4 x 64 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20953
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Crustaceans, ca. 1956
    Oil on Masonite
    30 x 44 inches

    Signed Ekstrom, lower right; titled and estate stamped on reverse

    #20925
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    51 x 64 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20966
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1950s
    Oil on Masonite
    30 x 48 inches

    Estate stamped on reverse

    #20922
  • John Warren Ekstrom
    American, 1929 - 2020
    Untitled, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    26 x 18 inches

    Signed Ekstrom and estate stamped on reverse

    #20962
  • Installation View
    Gallery Exhibition
    #7
  • Installation View
    Gallery Exhibition
    #4

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