The World's Largest Modern & Contemporary Prints & Editions Platform

Victor
Pasmore

Victor Pasmore, a British abstract artist, used colour and geometric shapes to create complex compositions inspired by nature, playing a significant role in the development of abstract art in Britain. If you’re looking for original Victor Pasmore prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network’s most in-demand works.

Victor Pasmore art for sale

Discover Victor Pasmore prints for sale, exclusively available through our private network of collectors. Explore signed and unsigned screenprints, lithographs, digital prints, and rare editioned proof prints by era-defining blue chip artists.

x

Sell Your Art
with Us

Join Our Network of Collectors. Buy, Sell and Track Demand

Submission takes less than 2 minutes & there's zero obligation to sell
The Only Dedicated Print Market IndexTracking 48,500 Auction HistoriesSpecialist Valuations at the Click of a Button Build Your PortfolioMonitor Demand & Supply in Network Sell For Free to our 25,000 Members

Biography

Victor Pasmore (1908 –1998) was a British artist and architect who played a pivotal role in the development of Abstract art in the mid-20th century. Born in Chelsham, Surrey, Pasmore's artistic journey saw him transition from a figurative painter to an influential abstractionist, whose works have left an indelible mark on the world of modern art.

Victor Pasmore's Early Education and Influences

Pasmore's artistic inclinations were evident from an early age, and he began studying art at the age of 16 at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. He later attended the prestigious Byam Shaw School of Art and continued his studies at the Royal Academy Schools. Initially, Pasmore's paintings were rooted in naturalism, and he was heavily influenced by the works of the Old Masters such as Rembrandt and Titian. During this time, Pasmore was associated with the Euston Road School, a group of artists who advocated realism and the significance of tradition in painting.

A white square canvas with delicate black lines forming a central square and various abstract shapes within it.

Image © Christie's / Linear Motif in Black and White © Victor Pasmore 1960-1961

1. £329,000 for Victor Pasmore's Linear Motif in Black and White

Victor Pasmore was a proponent of pure abstraction, which he viewed as a way of capturing the essential qualities of art. His work, Linear Motif In Black And White (1960-1961), is a prime example of this approach and explores three-dimensionality by incorporating a range of materials, including acrylic and gravure on Formica, similar to woodblock printing. Through layering these composite materials, Pasmore creates a work that is as much an object as a picture, inviting the viewer to consider the physicality of the materials used in its creation. Linear Motif In Black And White is a seminal representation of Pasmore's oeuvre, showcasing his innovative approach to form, material, and perception.

This work is his auction record and sold for £329,000 (fees included) at Christie’s in June 2017.

 A painting depicting a reclining nude woman on a white bed, with her body seamlessly blending into the sheets, creating the illusion of her wearing clothes. She gazes back at the viewer with a seductive pose, reminiscent of an odalisque.

Image © Sotheby's / The Studio of Ingres 1945-1947

2. £221,500 for Victor Pasmore's The Studio of Ingres

The Studio of Ingres (1945-1946) marks Victor Pasmore's transition from representational to abstract art. Inspired by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, this painting interprets Ingres' studio and his renowned artwork, “Odalisque.” Pasmore employs formal composition, blending geometric shapes to create depth while the muted palette enhances the studio's ambiance. Pasmore abstracts the woman's body within white linens, foreshadowing his interest in movement and aesthetics. This fusion of references led to a remarkable sale of £221,500 (fees included) at Sotheby's in June 1997, the second-highest price for a Pasmore artwork.

 A red-washed abstract painting with geometric shapes in different colours at the bottom, while a small black circle outlined in white sits at the centre of the upper red section.

Image © Christie's / Abstract in Indian Red, Crimson, Blue, Yellow, Green, Pink and Orange © Victor Pasmore 1957

3. £200,000 for Victor Pasmore's Abstract in Indian Red, Crimson, Blue, Yellow, Green, Pink and Orange

This artwork signifies a pivotal moment in Victor Pasmore's artistic journey, marking his shift from representational techniques learned at the Euston Road School to embracing abstraction. It amalgamates various artistic influences, blending a vibrant palette reminiscent of American Abstract Expressionists with geometric forms akin to British Modern Abstract artists like Terry Frost. Like his English counterparts, Pasmore draws inspiration from the natural world, undergoing an aesthetic transformation inspired by cosmic magnificence.

Abstract in Indian Red, Crimson, Blue, Yellow, Green, Pink, and Orange (1957) fetched an impressive £200,000 (fees included) at Christie's in October 2019, highlighting its artistic and historical significance.

 A small square canvas with a barely visible white gradient circle in the middle of the square is placed against a white canvas and framed by a thin brown wooden frame. The centre of the circle is intersected with a thin black horizontal line, and a vertical line protrudes upwards from the left-hand side of the artwork at a right angle.

Image © Christie's / Linear Image: The New Vitruvius © Victor Pasmore 1965-1967