
Richard Anuszkiewicz 1930–2020
Richard Anuszkiewicz was born of humble beginnings in Erie, PA to working class immigrant parents. While attending a local Catholic school, the nuns noticed and encouraged his surprisingly advanced talent for drawing. At the age of 17 he won a National Scholastic Art award and then a full scholarship to the Institute of Art in Cleveland, Ohio where he would go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in 1953. That same year he won a prestigious Pulitzer travel fellowship. Rather than go to Europe like so many of his contemporaries, he opted to study under Josef Albers at Yale University for his master’s degree.
Albers, a German-born artist and educator, was one of the most influential visual arts teachers of the 20th century and his theory of color and iconic color square paintings had an enormous impact on Anuszkiewicz’s artistic development. After graduating from Yale, Anuszkiewicz returned to Ohio and studied at Kent State University where he earned a teaching degree. It was during this time that he devoted himself more seriously to painting and delved deeper into color theory and optical perception. At first, his paintings found tepid reception, with dealers complaining that his works were nice to look at but difficult on the eyes. This all changed after his solo exhibition at Contemporaries gallery in New York in 1960.
Auction Results Richard Anuszkiewicz

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Progression: In and Out
result: $81,250

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (from the Temple Series)
result: $50,000

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Mystic Red
result: $43,750

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Soft Grey Square with Lavender
result: $32,500

Richard Anuszkiewicz
untitled
result: $12,000

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled
result: $11,875

Richard Anuszkiewicz
untitled
result: $7,963

Richard Anuszkiewicz
collection of twenty-two works
result: $7,500

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Annual Editions (four works)
result: $6,250

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Translucent
result: $6,000

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled
result: $5,625

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Annual Editions (four works)
result: $5,000

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Annual Editions (four works)
result: $4,375

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Sequential VI, VIII and X (three works from the Sequential portfolio)
result: $2,750

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled
result: $2,750

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Annual Editions (three works)
result: $2,600

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (Annual Edition)
result: $1,664

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (Annual Edition)
result: $1,625

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (Annual Edition)
result: $1,500

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (four works)
result: $1,500

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (from the Inward Eye portfolio)
result: $1,375

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (Annual Edition)
result: $1,300

Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (from the Inward Eye portfolio)
result: $1,250

Richard Anuszkiewicz
wall hanging
result: $1,143