Ronald Davis

Biography

Biography

Ronald Davis was born in Santa Monica, California in 1937. He is famed for his geometric-shaped illusionist paintings, which utilize colored polyester resins and fiberglass. During the 1960s and 70s, Davis drew international acclaim for his geometric painting, showing in major galleries, museums, and biennials.

 

The artist is also known for his innovative work in various other mediums. Davis’ eclectic practice spans sound sculpture, electronic music composition, 3-D rendering, digital painting, giclée computer printing, silkscreening, lithography, etching, and papermaking. He has also collaborated with architects Frank Gehry and Dennis Holloway on the design and construction of numerous architectural projects, his Hondo Mesa studio among them.

 

Traveling to Taos, New Mexico, in 1990, the artist purchased a 10-acre lot north of Taos on the Hondo Mesa, where his distinctive studio compound now sits.

 

Schools of Study

San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA 1960-64

 

Partial List of Collections

Museum of Modern Art, New York
Tate Gallery, London
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles
San Francisco Museum of Art, San Francisco, CA
Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, IL

 

Selected Exhibitions

Tibor de Nagy Gallery, New York 1966
Documenta, 1968
Leo Castelli Gallery, New York (1968, 1970, 1973, 1974)
Kasmin Gallery, London (1971)
Venice Biennale, 1972
Charlotte Jackson Fine Art, New Mexico (2013)

 

Ronald Davis at 203 Fine Art

Please follow the link below to view the online catalogue for the 2019 exhibition LA to Taos, organized by 203 Fine Art.

LA to Taos | Exhibition Catalogue on ISSUU

Seven Decades | Exhibition Catalogue on ISSUU

Seven Decades | Exhibition Installation video

 

Works
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Crosby, 1978
    cel-vinyl acrylic and dry pigment on canvas
    41 ⅝ x 65 ⅝ inches
    105.7 x 166.7 cm
  • optical painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Checkerboard X Painting (Checkerboard Series), 1978
    Cel-Vinyl Acrylic Copolymer
    65 ⅝ x 52 ¾ inches
    166.7 x 134 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    First Bent Beam, 1964
    acrylic on canvas
    58 ⅞ x 29 inches
    149.5 x 73.7 cm
  • optical painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Nested Diamond, 2001
    Golden acrylic on expanded PVC
    14 x 19.75 x 2"
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Green-Blue V-Rift, 1965
    acrylic on canvas
    47 ¾ x 34 ¼ x 4 inches
    121.3 x 87 x 10.2 cm
  • optical painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Blue and Green Stripes, 1965
    Acrylic on shaped wood
    10.25 x 5.75 x 4"
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Convex Checkered Lens, 1988
    Cel-vinyl acrylic copolymer and nova gel on shaped canvas
    30 x 30 inches
    76.2 x 76.2 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Double Diamond, 1967
    Resin & fiberglass
    45 x 137 inches
    114.3 x 348 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Four-Fourths Cylinder, 1996
    Encaustic on birch plywood
    36 1/2 x 43 1/2 inches
    92.7 x 110.5 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Pentagon V-Rift, 196560 x 63", acrylic on canvas, 1965
    acrylic on canvas
    60 x 63 inches
    152.4 x 160 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    OUTSIDE C's, #178, 1969
    acrylic with resin and fiberglass
    66 x 95 inches
    167.6 x 241.3 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Pastel Frame, 1996
    Encaustic wax and pigmnet on birch plywood
    44 x 58 inches
    111.8 x 147.3 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Three Color Wave, 2009
    Acrylic on expanded PVC
    35 ½ x 54 ¼ x 3 inches
    90.2 x 137.8 x 7.6 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Tri-Lift Slabs, 1987
    Cel-vinyl acrylic and dry pigment on canvas
    96 x 66 1/8 inches
    243.8 x 168 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Back Up, 1969
    Polyester Resin
    and Fiberglass
    60 ½ x 136 inches
    153.7 x 345.4 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    127 Pound Butterfly, 1986
    cel-vinyl acrylic and dry pigment on canvas
    96 x 66"
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    A Sharp B Flat, 1984
    Cel-vinyl acrylic on canvas
    137.2 x 111.8 cm
    Signed & dated verso
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    DG Painting on Paper, 1984
    Cel-vinyl acrylic on canvas
    22 x 30 inches
    55.9 x 76.2 cm
    Signed & dated lower right
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Double Diagonal, 1969
    (shaped – 2 panels), Polyester Resin and Fiberglass Double Slabs
    58 x 129 inches
    147.3 x 327.7 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Dodecahedron I, ca. 1995
    Watercolor on 300lb arches paper
    22 ⅜ x 30 inches
    56.8 x 76.2 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Four Slope, 1967-2023
    Silver luster archival photo print
    13 x 19 inches
    33 x 48.3 cm
    Signed and dated lower right
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Fourteen Panels, 1973
    Cel-Vinyl Acrylic copolymer on linen on board
    18 x 56 inches
    45.7 x 142.2 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Gebo, 1979
    cel-vinyl acrylic on canvas
    66 x 84"
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Gray taper, 2009
    Acrylic on expanded PVC
    19 3/8 x 20 x 6 inches
    49.2 x 50.8 x 15.2 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Green Diamond, 1965
    Acrylic on canvas on wood construction
    10 1/4 x 5 7/8 x 4 1/4 inches
    26 x 14.9 x 10.8 cm
    Signed verso
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Hexagon Block, 1965
    acrylic on canvas
    90 x 68 inches
    228.6 x 172.7 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Lamont, 1978
    Cel-vinyl acrylic on canvas
    91 x 66 1/2 inches
    231.1 x 168.9 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Jericho 2002, 2002
    Golden Acrylics on expanded PVC
    91 1/2 x 102 inches
    232.4 x 259.1 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Lavender Diagonal Slabette, 1985
    Cel-vinyl acrylic and nova gel on shaped canvas
    28 1/2 x 33 x 2 3/4 inches
    72.4 x 83.8 x 7 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Lemon Yellow, 1969
    Moulded polyester resin & fiberglass
    50 ½ x 132 inches
    128.3 x 335.3 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Mazzochio Too, 2019
    Pixeldust behind acrylic glass
    23 1/4 x 23 1/4 inches
    59.2 x 59.2 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Meteors and Tube Near Mars, 1981
    acrylic on canvas
    54 x 28 inches
    137.2 x 71.1 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Notched Dodecagon, 1968
    Cel-Vinyl Acrylic on Copolymer acetate mounted on 100% cotton Somerset Velvet watercolor paper
    8 ½ x 22 inches
    21.6 x 55.9 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Open Cube, 1974
    Cel-vinyl acrylic copolymer and dry pigment on canvas
    48 x 48 inches
    121.9 x 121.9 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Oz Floaters, 1981
    Acrylic on canvas
    28 x 24 inches
    71.1 x 61 cm
    Signed and dated verso
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Plane in Vent, 1975
    Acrylic on canvas
    64 x 94 inches
    162.6 x 238.8 cm
    Signed, titled, and dated verso
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Ramp Inlet, 1966
    Rapidograph ink on paper mounted on 100% cotton Somerset Velvet watercolor paper
    8 ½ x 22 inches
    21.6 x 55.9 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Routed Block, 1967
    Cel-Vinyl Acrylic on Copolymer mounted on 100% cotton Somerset Velvet watercolor paper
    8.5 x 22"
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Rose Red Taper, 2009
    acrylics on expanded PVC plastic
    47 ⅝ x 31 ¾ x 6 inches
    121 x 80.6 x 15.2 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Stereo, 1983
    Cel-vinyl acrylic on linen
    130.8 x 81.3 cm
    Signed & dated verso
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Three-Quarters Blue-Gray, 2010
    Acrylic on expanded PVC
    20 x 20 x 3 inches
    50.8 x 50.8 x 7.6 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Torque Hinge, 2002
    Acrylic on expanded PVC
    70 1/2 x 63 x 2 inches
    179.1 x 160 x 5.1 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Two and One-Half Blocks, 1974
    Cel-vinyl acrylic copolymer and dry pigment on canvas
    48 x 48 inches
    121.9 x 121.9 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Two-Fold, 2009
    Golden acrylics on shaped PVC
    11 x 10
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Two Lens and Serpentine, 1980
    acrylic and graphite on canvas
    66 x 60 inches
    167.6 x 152.4 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Two-Thirds Lock Slabettes, 1984
    Cel-vinyl acrylic and nova gel on shaped canvas
    45 5/8 x 88 x 3 1/2 inches
    115.9 x 223.5 x 8.9 cm
    back
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Vee-Wave Times Two, 1967
    Zip A Tone on mylar mounted on 100% cotton Somerset Velvet watercolor paper
    8 ½ x 22 inches
    21.6 x 55.9 cm
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Upright Plus Star, 1977
    Cel-vinyl acrylic and dry pigment on canvas
    65 x 77 inches
    165.1 x 195.6 cm
    Signed and dated verso
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Zig-Zag Times Two, 1966
    Acrylic on shaped canvas
    84 3/4 x 61 5/8 inches
    215.3 x 156.5 cm
    back
  • Ronald Davis, Blue Slabette, 1995
    Ronald Davis
    Blue Slabette, 1995
    Cel-vinyl acrylic on canvas
    17 x 23 inches
    43.2 x 58.4 cm
    Sold
  • Ronald Davis, Pink and Purple Convex, 1996
    Ronald Davis
    Pink and Purple Convex, 1996
    Encaustic on birch plywood
    18 1/4 x 16 x 2 1/2 inches
    46.4 x 40.6 x 6.4 cm
    back
    Sold
  • Ronald Davis, Red and Green Crab, 1967
    Ronald Davis
    Red and Green Crab, 1967
    Cel-vinyl acrylic on acetate
    8 ½ x 22 x 20 ¼ inches
    21.6 x 55.9 x 51.4 cm
    Sold
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Un-Square Twist, 2009
    Acrylic on expanded PVC
    50.8 x 50.8 x 7.6 cm
    Sold
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Pink and Green Zig-Zag, 2010
    Golden acrylic on expanded pvc
    61.0 x 45.7 x 7.6 cm
    verso signed titled and dated
    Sold
  • Ronald Davis, Ovals and Diamonds, 1963
    Ronald Davis
    Ovals and Diamonds, 1963
    Prismacolor color pencil & graphite on paper
    25 x 14 ¾ inches
    63.5 x 37.5 cm
    Sold
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Holed Cube SSS V
    on metal substrate
    24 x 24
    Sold
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Glass Top Dodecagon, 1968
    Radiograph ink, Cel-vinyl co-polymeron acetate mounted on cream colored board
    8.5 x 20
    Sold
  • painting by Ronald Davis
    Ronald Davis
    Cone, Block, and Sphere, 2021
    Pixeldust rendering on aluminum
    12 x 21 1/4 inches
    30.5 x 54.1 cm
    back
    Sold
Exhibitions