With success always comes criticism. I've been criticized every year of my life.
Donald Sultan
Donald Sultan b. 1951
Born in 1951, Donald Sultan is an American contemporary painter from Asheville, North Carolina. He received his BFA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and moved to New York City after completing his MFA with the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. In the late 1970s, he rose to prominence as part of the New Image movement in New York with his first solo exhibition in 1977.
Sultan describes his body of work as abstract including large-scale compositions of still life imagery deconstructed into basic forms. His subject matter depicts everyday objects such as fruits, flowers, and playing cards set in rich colors against striking black backgrounds. In an innovative technique, he utilizes industrial materials such as tar and oil on tile over Masonite construction in reference to his North Carolina upbringing. Sultan has also created successful work as a draftsman, printmaker, and sculptor.
His work is included in internationally renowned collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Tate Gallery in London, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. Sultan lives and creates in New York.
Auction Results Donald Sultan
Donald Sultan
Three Old Limes and an Orange August 30 1988 (in four parts)
estimate: $30,000–50,000
result: $47,500
Donald Sultan b. 1951
Six Green Flowers, Nov 3 2004
estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $10,000
Donald Sultan b. 1951
Seven Black Flowers, Oct 30 2004
estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $10,000
Donald Sultan
Pomegranate
estimate: $7,000–9,000
result: $8,125
Donald Sultan b. 1951
Two Hats, Factory
estimate: $7,000–9,000
result: $7,800
Donald Sultan
July 23, 1977
estimate: $6,000–8,000
result: $6,325
Donald Sultan
Four Reds
estimate: $2,500–3,500
result: $4,500
Donald Sultan
Reds and Blacks
estimate: $3,000–5,000
result: $4,000
Donald Sultan
Six Green
estimate: $2,000–3,000
result: $3,250
Donald Sultan
Eight Poppies (Red Poppies)
estimate: $3,000–4,000
result: $3,125
Donald Sultan
Six Blue
estimate: $2,000–3,000
result: $3,125
Donald Sultan
Poppies (three works)
estimate: $3,000–5,000
result: $3,000