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
estimate: $30,000–50,000
result: $81,250
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (from the Temple Series)
estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $50,000
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Mystic Red
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $43,750
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Soft Grey Square with Lavender
estimate: $30,000–50,000
result: $32,500
Richard Anuszkiewicz
untitled
estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $12,000
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled
estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $11,875
Richard Anuszkiewicz
untitled
estimate: $3,000–4,000
result: $7,963
Richard Anuszkiewicz
collection of twenty-two works
estimate: $300–500
result: $7,500
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Annual Editions (four works)
estimate: $3,000–5,000
result: $6,250
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Translucent
estimate: $6,000–8,000
result: $6,000
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled
estimate: $5,000–7,000
result: $5,625
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Annual Editions (four works)
estimate: $1,000–1,500
result: $5,000
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Annual Editions (four works)
estimate: $3,000–5,000
result: $4,375
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Sequential VI, VIII and X (three works from the Sequential portfolio)
estimate: $1,000–1,500
result: $2,750
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled
estimate: $500–700
result: $2,750
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Annual Editions (three works)
estimate: $1,000–1,500
result: $2,600
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (Annual Edition)
estimate: $1,000–1,500
result: $1,664
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (Annual Edition)
estimate: $700–900
result: $1,625
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (Annual Edition)
estimate: $700–900
result: $1,500
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (four works)
estimate: $500–700
result: $1,500
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (from the Inward Eye portfolio)
estimate: $500–700
result: $1,375
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (Annual Edition)
estimate: $1,000–1,500
result: $1,300
Richard Anuszkiewicz
Untitled (from the Inward Eye portfolio)
estimate: $500–700
result: $1,250
Richard Anuszkiewicz
wall hanging
estimate: $1,000–1,500
result: $1,143