Lot 257, Auction 4/20/2026: Lynn Heitler Painting – Abstraction (1979)

$3,900.00

In stock

Lynn Heitler (American, b. 1948). Oil on canvas, 1979. Signed and dated at lower right. A large-scale abstract painting by Lynn Heitler. This piece exemplifies Heitler’s deep dive into abstraction that invites viewers to partake in pareidolia, a psychological phenomenon in which we humans perceive recognizable images in non-representational forms. The painting is rendered with Heitler’s signature loose brushwork, lyrical skeins of oil paint, passages of thick impasto, overlapping diaphanous layers of thinly applied pigments, and staccato like gestural marks and sgraffito scratches in the pigment. Heitler’s color palette is undeniably seductive, with vibrant shades of hot pink, fiery orange, scarlet red, deep violet, goldenrod yellow, teal, and sky blue. Truly one of a kind painting by Lynn Heitler whose creative process manifests in the most compelling abstract compositions. Size: 53.5″ L x 66.75″ W (135.9 cm x 169.5 cm)

Artist’s Statement: “Creating art is a multifaceted experience for me. From beginning to end, the creation of each painting is a spontaneous process. What do I mean? Often the story begins when I wake up in the morning: I have a thought or a feeling about a color, a texture, a movement or, occasionally, a work by another artist. Once in my home studio, I begin with a single mark on the canvas. The mark can be large or small, but it is the dynamic leader of the painting. It suggests – sometimes commands — what the next mark will be. I listen and respond. This dialogue, or conversation, between me and the marks on the canvas (or you might say, between me and my unconscious) continues until the artwork is complete.

The process is meditative, focused, and consuming. Time flies by without my even noticing it. The flow is satisfying but also challenging. From one mark to the next, nothing in the evolving story is preplanned, nothing is expected to be anything but what it turns out to be. Abstract art is a language which the viewer may or may not understand or relate to. It just is.

Some viewers see what for them are recognizable objects in my paintings. None of these were intended by me; often I do not see them until someone points them out to me. This experience can be intriguing, and at times disturbing. However, it has become an accepted part of the story of my creative endeavor. My brother used the word pareidolia (the perception of a recognizable image or meaningful pattern where none exists or is intended) to describe this experience. What a viewer sees in my paintings — animals, birds, plants, water, fish, people, sexual imagery — creates a canvas for open projections. I used to think that abstract art was truly abstract; I now know that my artwork can be like the clouds in which we see faces or objects. This is part of the pleasure that my work provides for me, and perhaps for others.” (source: artist’s website)

About the Artist: “Lynn Heitler’s creative journey is a deeply spontaneous and intuitive process, characterized by a dynamic dialogue between her conscious and unconscious mind. Each of her abstract paintings begins with a single, unplanned mark, which then guides the evolving narrative on the canvas. This meditative approach allows her art to flow naturally, resulting in pieces that are both challenging and satisfying.

Heitler’s work invites viewers to engage in pareidolia—the perception of familiar images in abstract forms. Her paintings often evoke recognizable objects such as animals, plants, and human figures, though none are intentionally depicted. This phenomenon adds an intriguing layer to her art, transforming each piece into a canvas for personal interpretation and projection.

Heitler’s art has been widely recognized and is included in numerous prestigious collections. Her pieces grace the walls of corporate and public spaces, including the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Denver, Janus Funds, CoGen Technologies, Dow, Cogburn & Friedman, PC, Wolters Kluwer US Corporation, and United Airlines. Other notable collections featuring her work are LaSalle Partners, Pfizer, Inc., William Mercer, and Denver University.

Lynn Heitler’s unique approach to abstract art not only captures the fluidity and unpredictability of her creative process but also invites viewers to discover their own narratives within her vibrant and evocative canvases.” (Source: Leopold Gallery + Art Consulting website)

Condition: Signed and dated at lower right. Scratches in the painting were intentional, part of the artist’s process. One scratch at upper center may not be intentional. Mounted in a thin metal frame. Fit with suspension wire.

Provenance: private Denver, Colorado, USA collection

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