Jonathan Lasker

Jonathan Lasker, an influential American abstract painter, has significantly contributed to the evolution of Postmodern Painting. His art integrates biomorphic shapes, geometric patterns, and expressive graffiti marks.

Biography of Jonathan Lasker

Born in 1948 in Jersey City, New Jersey, Jonathan Lasker is a New York City-based American artist. He began his artistic journey at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City and later pursued studies at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia, California.

Lasker's early years saw him departing from New York after studying at Queens College, immersing himself in music by playing bass guitar and blues harmonica in bands across the United States and Europe. In 1975, upon returning to New York, he enrolled in night courses at SVA, where his focus shifted to paintings and collages inspired by the works of Robert Rauschenberg. He continued his education at SVA until 1977 before transferring to CalArts.

The artist spent the spring and fall semesters of 1977 at CalArts. Following his time at the institute, Lasker lived and worked in San Francisco, California, for two years.

Jonathan Lasker's artistic breakthrough occurred with his first solo exhibition at Landmark Gallery in Soho in January 1981. The show caught the attention of art dealer Tony Shafrazi, who invited Lasker to participate in a group exhibition at his gallery in Soho, featuring notable artists such as Keith Haring, Donald Baechler, and Ronnie Cutrone.

In 1981, Lasker expanded his reach to Europe with his inaugural exhibition at Galerie Gunnar Kaldewey in Düsseldorf, Germany. The show drew the interest of art dealer David Nolan, affiliated with Galerie Michael Werner in Cologne.

Over the ensuing years, Lasker continued to showcase his paintings at Tibor de Nagy Gallery in midtown Manhattan. In 1984, he crossed paths with curators Tricia Collins and Richard Milazzo (Collins & Milazzo), who included his work in several exhibitions in New York in 1985.

In 1986, Lasker accepted an invitation from Michael Werner to create paintings for a solo exhibition at his gallery in Cologne.

Jonathan Lasker's Art Style

Lasker's artistic exploration delves into the intricate construction and perception of paintings, forging a distinctive painting system centered on a dynamic figure-ground relationship. In his creative process, the figure and ground engage in a dialectical interplay, giving rise to paradoxes that emanate from the spontaneous genesis of his compositions through loose, impromptu drawings.

The genesis of Lasker's compositions lies in these preliminary sketches, from which he selects "images" to develop further as small-scale studies for color and composition. The finalized "maquettes" then serve as guiding blueprints for his expansive, large-scale paintings.

Within his drawings, Lasker juxtaposes toothy graphite lines against deep black fields of Indian ink. He perceives the densely painted autonomous shapes within his compositions as "things of paint," a deliberate nod to the Minimalist concept of "specific objects." Rather than seeking compositional harmony, Lasker deliberately aims for conflict within his elements, fostering a dialogical quality in his work.