LOUIS MONZA CA Visionary Outsider Rare Oil "The Faith" provenance Luise Ross NY Gallery Humanist Fauve 1955 Start Price USD 2,500.00 Current Price USD 2,500.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, May 15, 2008 End Time Sunday, May 25, 2008 Location Chicago, Illinois See more about 'LOUIS MONZA CA Visionary Outsider Rare Oil "The Faith" ' Description Note:  The first picture of complete painting shows the actual coloring-deeper, the flash washed out the detail photos but the first one shows the richness of the oil colors. Louis Monza (1897-1984) was born in Turate, Italy and was apprenticed to a provincial wood-carver and folk artisan at the age of seven. Arriving in New York City in 1913, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in World War I. Monza's early work depicted World War II with political commentaries. In 1946 Monza moved to California where he created prints and sculpture as well as drawings and paintings,  His earlier paintings were full of social commentary and political anger expressed stylistically both  with social realism and surrealism.  Later, he became concerned about ecology and the effects of technology and the military on our earth.  In his late years he  began to create images of a utopian coexistence between humans, animals and nature.  Throughout his life, Monza expressed his deep felt humanism through art.  He was a visionary, naive painter, printer and sculptor. This oil on canvas is one that Monza produced in 1955 and titled "the faith". Here you see his colorful and Naive style, rich in detail and intricate motif.  This one is full of symbolism.  I'm not sure what its about but have found it to be very powerful and at the same time calming.  The colors are so gorgeous, really beautiful and soft.  The rooster feathers are made up of naked woman, very minimalist in detail and yet each one has a different face and different breasts.  The very stylized, mask-like figure looking over, down.  I would love to know what the picture is actually about.  It has always evoked fertility to me. And perhaps some relation to voodoo voudon-Haitian imagery. I wish I knew more. The painting itself was done with gusty as evidenced by the rich brushstrokes layered on. His paintings are a lot more rare than his drawings and this one was from the Luise Ross gallery in New York, which still has a nice collection of Monza paintings.  A gorgeous piece by Monza, an artist whose work is becoming increasingly valuable and is more than double the price at galleries.  A recent painting by Monza sold for over $6000 at auction.  I love this piece but dont have the space so I havent been able to enjoy it.  its a pity but its time for it to be enjoyed. Dimensions: 26x 32, framed to  approx 27.5 x 33.5 x 1 3/4" deep. Oil on stretched canvas Signed L.Monza 55in lower right .  Beautifully framed in a light wood shadow box.  Extremely sturdy and ready to hang .  lower right has Luise Ross sticker on it w/pting info.   I hate to part with anything by Monza, especially this one, but his art is meant to be enjoyed and contemplated, not left unseen in a drawer so...  Lauri Martin and Susan Larsen Martin, close friends of Louis Monza and his wife and lovely people.  The Martins recently gave a significant gift of Monza's mature work to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta where they had a major exhibit of his work "Louis Monza: From Politics to Paradise".    Monza's work is also in the permenant collections of the American Folk Art Museum, the Smithsonian Art Museum, INTUIT in Chicago and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Collection.  Monza has been the subject of numerous exhibits and articles.  Check out my outsider art, tramp, ethnic, folk art and other fun items! I am downsizing considerably to accomodate my small space so I will be letting go of many pieces I have enjoyed to make room for work and play!! Business stuff:  I will be happy to answer questions and send additional photos.  I accept personal checks, money orders.  I will send out item after check clearance period.  Please be in touch with me within 3 days of auction end and pay within 7 days.  Insurance is suggested.  I cannot be held responsible after shipping items without insurance.  Delivery confirmation is included in shipping cost.  Thanks and happy collecting!   Place a Bid!