Bio Paul Jenkins

As a member of the Abstract Expressionist movement, Paul Jenkins (1923-2012) was renowned for his technique of controlled paint pouring and use of translucent colours.

Jenkins was a painter without a paint brush. His intuitive approach to painting, first with oil paints and later acrylic, involved pouring paint directly on the canvas, while manipulating it with an ivory knife. Not before priming the canvas so that unlike other Colour Field artists, the paint did not soak in and instead, flowed and pooled.

His paintings were influenced by his early interest in Eastern religions and philosophy, the writings of Carl Jung, and by Goethe’s colour theories, which inspired him to preface the titles of his works with the word “Phenomena,” followed by a key word or phrase.

Jenkins’ work is found in international museums and collections including The Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and San Francisco, Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, and the Tate Gallery in London.

Artist Performance At Auction

PAUL JENKINS
PHENOMENA PRISM EMISSARY
1985
(oil on canvas)

Estimated Price: 15,000 – 20,000 USD
Sold For: 92,500 USD
Return over upper estimate: 462%

PAUL JENKINS
PHENOMENA ASTRAL SIGNAL
1964-1965
(acrylic on canvas)

Estimated Price: 25,000 – 35,000 USD
Sold For: 87,500 USD
Return over upper estimate: 250%