Paintings by famed chimp to go on sale

Congo the chimpanzee learned to draw at two years old when his owner, artist and ethologist Desmond Morris, gave him a pencil and a piece of card. He soon noticed that the ape could draw a circle and had a basic sense of composition. Congo made around 400 artworks during his lifetime, and rose to fame in the late 1950s as the star of British TV show Zootime.

A painting by Congo

His abstract, expressionist paintings have previously caught the interest of Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. And now Desmond is selling his collection of the chimp's artworks at London's Mayor Gallery. The 55 paintings, which will be priced between £1,500 ($1,850) and £6,000 each ($7,400), will be on view from December 3 through 19.

From artnet:

"No other apes were controlling the mark making and varying the patterns as he was,” Morris explains in a statement. "I originally picked Congo out as one of the more boisterous at the zoo and felt that his strong personality would respond well to focused periods of working together."

What started out as scribbly lines and splotches of paint soon turned into carefully crafted compositions that demonstrated a formal logic without having an obvious analog to the real world. Just as Pollack, de Kooning, and Kline were exploring the limits of pictorial abstraction, so too was a three-year-old chimpanzee.

Congo died at ten years of age in 1964 after suffering from tuberculosis.

Comments

If you're a fan of pop culture, you’ll find something here that resonates.

Secret Fresh is a place where art feels, well, fresh. It's a vibrant, energetic hub where contemporary pieces, designer toys, and pop culture collide. The gallery is also a constant source of inspiration, reminding you that art can be anything, anywhere, and for everyone. If you have time, check out the place. You might just discover your new favorite artist. The prices are usually much more accessible than those in bigger, old school galleries, making it a perfect spot to start your own collection or find that cool gift.

In Memory of Laura

So sad this morning to hear of the unexpected death of Laura, an old fiend and former dentist. I will always remember her bizarre taste in music, her dark humor, and her unwavering belief that a person’s worth is tied to their oral care routine. Last year, we wanted to meet and work together again on something and I am very, very sorry that will never happen. I've mentioned her in a 2015 blog post , and today I will rerun the tale... Not So Happy Ending Not so long ago, I went for a drink in a pub in Ortigas. I had second thoughts about entering the establishment when I noticed there were so many people inside. There were men with ironic beard and pretentious hairstyles dressed in rolled up chinos and check shirts; women in vintage sundresses, skinny jeans, and acid wash denim cutoff shorts; actors and models trying to look hip; and a bunch of call center agents who wanted to get drunk before they start their graveyard shifts. There was this famous guitarist at one table, with sho...

Finding Art That Speaks To You

The internet is a vast ocean, and every now and then, you stumble upon something that makes you stop in your tracks. Recently, I was scrolling through my Instagram when I discovered Laurent Proux 's art. I surfed for what felt like hours, and thanked the IG algorithm for its foresight. It's rare to find an artist who can evoke such a strong feeling with their creations, and I instantly became a fan. The French artist's paintings often feature opposing elements—light and shadow, nature and industry, pleasure and violence, the real and the surreal. His figures are often fragmented, distorted, or contorted, blurring the lines between the human form and the landscapes they inhabit. Think of a vivid dream where everything is a little off-kilter, quite nightmarish, but in the most charming way possible. Proux's work is a reminder that art isn't just something to be observed in a museum or gallery. It's a powerful form of communication, a way for artists to share their...

finding cain

Search This Blog