(1924-1990) is renowned across Canada for his eclectic and dynamic body of work. 

In the 1950s, Town established his reputation with a series of abstract monotypes (called ). He would exhibit these works at the Venice Biennale to great fanfare in Europe and beyond. By the 1960s, he was considered the most famous artist in Canada.  

Town fearlessly experimented. Consider how different his "" is from his "" or even his "" works. In every decade, Town would switch gears and embark on a new series with new material, courage, and conviction.  

Until the late 1960s, Town's abstract works were critically and commercially embraced. The "Stretch" series, and the response, were a major departure from his previous work. Was Town responding to emerging trends in the art world (such as Minimalism and hard-edge abstraction)? Town's oeuvre has little connection to minimalism, and he can arguably be understood as a maximalist, always aiming for extravagance, layers, and bravado. 

This bold work on paper is a unique example of the artist's pared-back approach from this significant era. A jet-black anchor-like form spans the sheet horizontally, held in place by two banana-yellow squares. This spirited contrast underscores the artist's deliberate use of color, infusing his more minimal compositions with a sense of dynamism and tension. 

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"Ship Shape" 

Canada, 1974

Ink and watercolor on paper

Signed, dated, and titled by the artist, top left and verso

9"H 12"W (work)

Very good condition.

Note: the price is $2,150 CAD