Untitled (Abstract Composition)

Byron Goto

Hawaiian-born artist Byron Goto did this watercolor/ink drawing in 1963. Using India ink on a thin, absorbent Japanese paper he drew a surreal, expressionist linear structure which he colored with washes. As with many AbEx drawings, there are spots of oil and drips within the composition. It is signed and dated in pencil in the lower edge.

After graduating with an MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1946 and moving to Europe to study Goto commented about his work from the late 1940s:

"While working in Chicago, my work developed into a style evolved from an abstraction of nature influenced by the New York Abstract School of de Kooning [a close friend] and Pollack; geometric forms cut into the picture in a countering effect. I exhibited with the Momentum and the Chicago Artist Shows at the Art Institute. Winning the Martin B. Kahn award in the Institute's prestigious American Show was my first real break."

This work was from the collection of Goto's close friend, Academy Award winner photographer Lou Stoumen (1917-1991).

Byron Goto was born on July 11 in Hilo, Hawaii in 1919. He wrote this biography for Artasiamerica: "My formal art education started at Woodbury College in Los Angeles in 1941. During the Second World War, I left California and entered the Art Institute of Chicago. There I earned both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees. After receiving my Bachelor's degree, I won a traveling fellowship to study graphic art and poster-making at the Beaux Arts in Lausanne, Switzerland. This was in 1941—the War had ended and we were about the first students allowed to go abroad. All Europe was on a rationed economy: Switzerland was the least affected, but still severely rationed. The Beaux Art was a traditional school, classes were held with realism as a basis of expression.

I then moved to Paris where I studied under Andre Lhote and Fernand Leger at their atelier. Paris was exciting. Cubism, surrealism and existential philosophy were dominant ideas at the time. Picasso, Matisse, Leger, Chagall, Ernst, Gromaire, Zadkine were very active then: Leger's atelier and Lhote studio were crowed with students.

After returning to Chicago and completing my Master's degree at the Art Institute, I worked for Warren Wetherwell Advertising Studio to make my living. While working in Chicago, my work developed into a style evolved from an abstraction of nature influenced by the New York Abstract School of de Kooning and Pollack; geometric forms cut into the picture in a countering effect. I exhibited with the Momentum and the Chicago Artist Shows at the Art Institute. Winning the Martin B. Kahn award in the Institute's prestigious American Show was my first real break.

The next success came in 1953 when I was invited to show my painting at the Museum of Modern Art in New York at their New Talent Exhibit. That year I moved to New York. Living on South Mountain Road, New City, Rockland County, New York, where there was a lively artistic colony—notable members included Henry Varnum Poor, Maxwell Anderson, John Masters, Lotte Lenya Milton Caniff and Herbert Katzman—I lived, raised kids, painted, made movies, and commuted to the city. In New York, I worked first with Comart Studio for a year, then with the American Broadcasting Company for seventeen years, doing various assignments, including art direction for the Winston Churchill Series and the Howard K. Smith News and Analysis program. I did the first Telstar graphic, designed the Company's international logo, and created a light animation which appeared on Times Square and was switched on from Hollywood to publicize the opening of Dick Cavett's network talk show. Also working in the ABC Advertising Department, I illustrated promotional pieces, designed brochures, newspaper ads, logos, and product packages, as well as album covers for ABC-affiliated record companies. In 1971, I returned to free-lance work in design and illustration, and to painting and film work."

Byron Goto died in New York City on April 8, 2012.