Norman Zammitt

  • About
  • Norman Zammitt was an American artist from Canadian origin living and working in Los Angeles.
     
    Norman Zammitt was a lead figure in the Light & Space movement considered as the most important one in Los Angeles. His works, especially his « three dimensional » sculptures, were pioneers in the United States. This innovative concept, which explored color and transparency, inspired a whole generation of artists including Dewain Valentine or Peter Alexander, and earned him the Guggenheim Prize in 1968. Artworks from his Band Painting series were, in turn, aligned with those of the American minimalist artists, Ellsworth Kelly and Frank Stella, or the German abstract painter Josef Albers, due to their repetition and exploration into color itself, its nature and its spirituality. Norman Zammitt has been collected by impressive institutions such as the Lacma and the Moma to name but a few.
  • Artworks
    • Norman Zammitt Hard White Edge, 1976 Acrylic on canvasboard
      Norman Zammitt
      Hard White Edge, 1976
      Acrylic on canvasboard
    • Norman Zammitt New 3, 1984 Acrylic on canvasboard
      Norman Zammitt
      New 3, 1984
      Acrylic on canvasboard
    • Norman Zammitt Grey 28, 1986 Acrylic on canvasboard
      Norman Zammitt
      Grey 28, 1986
      Acrylic on canvasboard
    • Norman Zammitt Spectrum 3, 1986 Acrylic on canvasboard
      Norman Zammitt
      Spectrum 3, 1986
      Acrylic on canvasboard
  • Series
  • The Band Painting Series 1974 - 1988 60 works Band Painting is the emblematic series by Norman Zammitt. The precision...

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    The Band Painting Series
    1974 - 1988
    60 works

     

    Band Painting is the emblematic series by Norman Zammitt. The precision and preference of this unclassifiable artist for smooth supports create a parallel with minimalist american artists. Even though these works may suggest landscapes, they especially reflect his ability to capture light. His affinity with  scientists allows him to transform his abstract work into mathematical language. He creates logarithms and curves in order to accurately trace the bandwidth and progression of color, not only for aesthetic precision, but also for emotional effect, spiritual and singular. He also discovered that the parabolic graphs created to calculate the exact progression of color gradation follow the same curve as the growth rate of living organisms.

  • Collections
  • PUBLIC COLLECTIONS :

    AMON CARTER MUSEUM, FORTH WORTH
    HIRSHHORN MUSEUM, WASHINGTON
    LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, WASHINGTON
    LONG BEACH MUSEUM, LONG BEACH
    LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES
    MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, SAN DIEGO
    MOMA, NEW YORK
    MOMA, SAN FRANCISCO
    NATIONAL GALLERY, WASHINGTON
    NORA ECCLES HARRISON MUSEUM, LOGAN
    NORTON SIMON MUSEUM, PASADENA
    PALM SPRINGS MUSEUM, PALM SPRINGS
    ROWLAND INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE, CAMBRIDGE
    SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM, SANTA BARBARA
    SEATTLE ART MUSEUM, SEATTLE
    STANFORD UNIVERSITY, STANFORD
    VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON

    PRIVATE COLLECTIONS :

    EDWIN LAND, SCIENTIST
    ELIZABETH FORSYTHE HAILEY, JOURNALIST
    HELEN AND PETER BING, NURSE AND DOCTOR
    JOHN KLUGE, BUSINESSMAN
    MARILYN AND WILLIAM LASAROW, ARTIST AND JUDGE
    MAURICE TUCHMAN, CURATOR
    NORMAN LEAR, PRODUCER
    RICHARD FEYNMAN, PHYSICIST
    RUTH AND RICHARD ROGERS, ENTREPRENEUR AND ARCHITECT
    TRUMAN CAPOTE, WRITER

    ART AWARDS :

    2000         LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL DECLARATION, NORMAN ZAMMITT DAY, 16 SEPTEMBER
    2000         LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION, 15 SEPTEMBER
    1991         POLLOCK KRASNER FOUNDATION, GRANT
    1968         GUGGENHEIM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, FELLOWSHIP 
    1967         TAMARIND LITHOGRAPHY WORKSHOP, FELLOWSHIP 

    EDUCATION :

    1957         ARTS DEGREE, PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA
    1961         MASTER DEGREE, OTIS ART INSTITUTE, LOS ANGELES

    SOLO SHOWS :

    2019         NORMAN ZAMMITT, ANDREW RAFACZ, CHICAGO
    2014         NORMAN ZAMMITT, ANDREW RAFACZ, CHICAGO
    2012         NORMAN ZAMMITT, CARTER AND CITIZEN, LOS ANGELES
    2011         NORMAN ZAMMITT, NEWSPACE, LOS ANGELES
    2011         NORMAN ZAMMITT, MICHEL LORD GALLERY, PALM SPRINGS
    2000         NORMAN ZAMMITT, ELYSIUM STUDIO 13, LOS ANGELES
    1998         NORMAN ZAMMITT, ELYSIUM STUDIO 13, LOS ANGELES
    1995         NORMAN ZAMMITT, ELYSIUM STUDIO 13, LOS ANGELES
    1988         NORMAN ZAMMITT, LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY, RIVERSIDE
    1988         NORMAN ZAMMITT, PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA
    1984         NORMAN ZAMMITT, ACE GALLERY, LOS ANGELES
    1978         NORMAN ZAMMITT, CORCORAN GALLERY, WASHINGTON
    1977         NORMAN ZAMMITT, LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES
    1969         NORMAN ZAMMITT, ALAN LANDAU GALLERY, NEW YORK
    1969         NORMAN ZAMMITT, FELIX LANDAU GALLERY, LOS ANGELES
    1968         NORMAN ZAMMITT, SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM, SANTA BARBARA
    1966         NORMAN ZAMMITT, FELIX LANDAU GALLERY, LOS ANGELES
    1962         NORMAN ZAMMITT, FELIX LANDAU GALLERY, LOS ANGELES

    GROUP SHOWS :

    2023         HADI TABATABAI AND NORMAN ZAMMITT, PLACE VAUBAN, PARIS
    2017         MADE IN CALIFORNIA, NATIONAL GALLERY, WASHINGTON
    2017         BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, ART OF CALIFORNIA, MOMA, SAN FRANCISCO
    2016         LIGHT AND SPACE, SEATTLE MUSEUM OF ART, SEATTLE
    2016         JEREMY GILBERT ROLFE AND LOS ANGELES ABSTRACTION, LOUIS STERN, WEST HOLLYWOOD
    2015         IS THIS THAT, GREEN EXHIBITIONS, LOS ANGELES
    2013         ABSTRACTION, SIXTIES TO TODAY, HEATHER JAMES GALLERY, PALM DESERT
    2013         MADE IN THE USA, PALM SPRING ART MUSEUM, PALM SPRING
    2011         PURE LIGHT AND SPACE, PAINTING AND SCULPTURE FROM THE 70S, NEWSPACE GALLERY, LOS ANGELES
    2011         CROSSCURRENTS IN LOS ANGELES OF THE 50S AND 70S, GETTY MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES
    2011         PROOF, THE RISE OF PRINTMAKING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, NORTON SIMON MUSEUM, PASADENA
    2011         SUB POP, CARDWELL JIMMERSON, CULVER CITY
    2011         DARK MIRROR, CARDWELL JIMMERSON, CULVER CITY
    2011         SOL CAL, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PAINTING, DAVID RICHARD CONTEMPORARY, SANTA FE
    2009         EXCEPTIONALLY GIFTED, RECENT DONATIONS, THE NORTON SIMON MUSEUM, PASEDANA
    2007         SOL CAL, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ART OF THE 60S AND 70S, LACMA, LOS ANGELES
    2006         TRANSLUCENCE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ART OF THE 60S AND 70S, NORTON SIMON, PASADENA
    2006         ALL IN THE FAMILY, GEORGE BILLIS GALLERY, LOS ANGELES
    2006         OTIS, NINE DECADES OF LOS ANGELES ART, LOS ANGELES 
    2004         HEROES AND HEROINES, WORKING ARTISTS OVER 70, ORANGE COUNTY CENTER, SANTA ANA
    2000         FROM PARIS TO PASADENA, AN OVERVIEW OF COLOR LITHOGRAPHY, NORTON SIMON, PASADENA
    1999         ART FROM STONE, PRINTS FROM THE TAMARIND LITHO WORKSHOP, NORTON SIMON, PASADENA
    1999         TAMARIND COLLECTION, PALM SPRINGS DESERT MUSEUM, PALM SPRINGS
    1998         COLLECTIVE EXHIBITION, PALM SPRINGS DESERT MUSEUM, PALM SPRINGS
    1988         CONTEMPORARY COLLECTION, LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES
    1987         ART IN LOS ANGELES, PROFOUND VISIONS, ACE GALLERY, LOS ANGELES
    1987         THE SPIRITUAL IN ART, ABSTRACT PAINTING, LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES
    1986         INAUGURAL EXHIBITION, ROBERT ORVILLE ANDERSON BUILDING, GEMEENTEMUSEUM, THE HAGUE
    1986         A CALIFORNIA COLLECTION, CIRRUS GALLERY, LOS ANGELES
    1986         CONTRASTS, LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES
    1985         NEW ACQUISITIONS, LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES
    1984         FOCUS ON CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES
    1981         DECADE: LOS ANGELES PAINTING IN THE 70S, ART CENTER, PASADENA
    1979         FOCUS ON CALIFORNIA ARTISTS, THE CORCORAN GALLERY, WASHINGTON
    1970         A PLASTIC PRESENCE, SFMOMA, SAN FRANCISCO
    1970         A PLASTIC PRESENCE, MILWAUKEE ART CENTER, MILWAUKEE
    1969         A PLASTIC PRESENCE, JEWISH MUSEUM, NEW YORK
    1967         PLASTICS WEST COAST, HANSEN GALLERY, SAN FRANCISCO
    1967         AMERICAN SCULPTURE OF THE 60S, LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES
    1967         AMERICAN SCULPTURE OF THE 60S, PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM, PHILADELPHIA
    1967         NEW ACQUISITIONS, MOMA, NEW YORK 
    1965         YOUNG WEST COAST ARTISTS, MOMA, NEW YORK