Lawrence Calcagno

Biography

Biography

Lawrence Calcagno was a renowned painter most closely associated with the San Francisco School of abstract expressionism. Born in San Francisco in 1913, Calcagno was a lifelong traveler. Shortly after completing high school, he traveled to Asia to work as a merchant seaman. During the war he served in U.S. Air Force, and after the war's end he studied painting with Clyfford Still and Mark Rothko at the California School of Fine Art.

 

During the 1950s Calcagno lived and worked in North Africa, France, and Italy. During his stay in Europe, Calcagno studied at the Acadamie de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris and the Instituto d Atre' Statale in Florence. In 1952 he began showing at the Fachetti Gallery in Paris, and the following year participated in a group exhibition at Martha Jackson Gallery in New York.

 

Upon his return to the United States, Calcagno had a solo exhibition at the Martha Jackson Gallery. He was a visiting artist-in-residence at several schools including the University of Alabama, Albright Art School, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also completed fellowships at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and the Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, New Mexico.

 

Calcagno purchased a home in Taos after his 1972 Wurlitzer residency. During the last decade of his career, the Smithsonian Institute organized a traveling exhibition of his works on paper; two retrospectives of his work were held at the Harwood Museum in Taos and the Anita Shapolsky Gallery in New York; and he was honored with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and a USIA - USSR Cultural Exchange. In 1992 Calcagno made a last visit to Taos and passed away the following year.

 

Schools of Study

California School of Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
Academie de la Grande Chaumiere, Paris
Institute d'Arte Statale, Florence, Italy

 

Partial List of Collections

Albright-Knox Gallery, Buffalo, NY
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, MA
Brooklyn Museum of Art, NY
Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA
Carnegie Institute Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA
Houston Museum of Art, TX
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, CA
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
San Francisco Museum of Art, CA
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Whitney Museum of American Art, NY

 

Selected Awards

Ford Foundation Grant, 1965
Yaddo Foundation
Macdowell Colony
Wurlitzer Foundation
USIA - USSR Cultural Exchange Grant, 1988
National Endowment for the Arts Grant, 1989

 

Selected Exhibitions

Studio Paul Facchetti, Paris, France 1955
Albright-Knox Gallery, Buffalo, N .Y. 1956
Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico 1961
McRobert and Tunnard Gallery, London, England 1961
Martha Jackson Gallery New York, NY (1955, 1958, 1960, 1962)
Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX 1965
Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 1965
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1973 -1975
Contemporary Art Center, Honolulu, HI 1976

 

Lawrence Calcagno at 203 Fine Art

The following exhibition catalogues, published by 203 Fine Art, feature works by Lawrence Calcagno. Please follow the links to view the catalogues on Issuu.

Taos Moderns: Bridging the Gap | 2015

San Francisco to Taos | 2017

Taos Moderns Return to The Stables Gallery | 2018

Taos Moderns in Santa Fe | 2019

Works by Lawrence Calcagno & Lee Mullican | 2019

Lawrence Calcagno: REDUX | 2024

Works
  • abstract painting by Lawrence Calcagno
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Constellation of the Inner Eye #24, 1977
    acrylic on handmade paper
    22 x 30 inches
    55.9 x 76.2 cm
    Signed and dated in the lower margin beneath the composition
  • abstract painting by Lawrence Calcagno
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Constellation of the Inner Eye #92, 1977-78
    acrylic on handmade paper
    22 x 30 inches
    55.9 x 76.2 cm
    Signed and dated in the lower margin beneath the composition
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Untitled Landscape , 1961
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Untitled Landscape , 1961
    oil on board
    10 x 5 ⅛ inches
    25.4 x 13 cm
    Signed and dated on reverse
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Red Season II, 1962
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Red Season II, 1962
    oil on canvas
    30 x 25 inches
    63.5 x 76.2 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Landscape Without Time VIII, 1965
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Landscape Without Time VIII, 1965
    oil on canvas
    48 x 52 inches
    121.9 x 132.1 cm
  • abstract painting by Lawrence Calcagno
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Sun Painting, 1975
    acrylic on canvas
    48 x 98 x 3 inches
    121.9 x 248.9 x 7.6 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Sunbands #22, 1982
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Sunbands #22, 1982
    Acrylic on paper
    22 ¼ x 29 ¾ inches
    56.5 x 75.6 cm
    Frame 27.5 x 35”
    signed and dated
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Sun Painting, 1978
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Sun Painting, 1978
    acrylic on canvas
    41 x 32 inches
    104.1 x 81.3 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Taos, 1982, 1982
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Taos, 1982, 1982
    acrylic on canvas
    30 x 36 inches
    76.2 x 91.4 cm
  • painting by Lawrence Calcagno
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Untitled , 1956
    oil on canvas
    37 ¼ x 57 inches
    94.6 x 144.8 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Untitled, c. 1990s
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Untitled, c. 1990s
    acrylic on canvas
    54 x 48 inches
    137.2 x 121.9 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Untitled Landscape, 1982
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Untitled Landscape, 1982
    oil on canvas
    36 x 28 inches
    91.4 x 71.1 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Untitled Sunset, 1982-83
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Untitled Sunset, 1982-83
    Acrylic on canvas mounted on board
    10 x 12 inches
    25.4 x 30.5 cm
  • abstract painting by Lawrence Calcagno
    Lawrence Calcagno
    White Painting, 1972 - 1989
    acrylic and oil on canvas
    57 ½ x 45 inches
    146.1 x 114.3 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Constellation of the Inner Eye, 1977
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Constellation of the Inner Eye, 1977
    Acrylic on paper mounted on board
    22 x 23 inches
    55.9 x 58.4 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Constellation of the Inner Eye XXVI, 1977
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Constellation of the Inner Eye XXVI, 1977
    Acrylic on paper
    22 ¼ x 30 inches
    56.5 x 76.2 cm
    Frame 25.5 x 35”
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Constellations of the Inner Eye #140, 1977-78
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Constellations of the Inner Eye #140, 1977-78
    watercolor on paper
    27 ¼ x 21 ½ inches
    69.2 x 54.6 cm
    Framed: 34 ¼ x 27 ¼ inches
    Framed: 87 x 69.2 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Cosmicscape XI, 1976
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Cosmicscape XI, 1976
    Acrylic on canvas
    52x48"
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Diptych I, 1983
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Diptych I, 1983
    Acrylic on canvas
    36 x 60 inches
    91.4 x 152.4 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Earth Legend, 1978-79
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Earth Legend, 1978-79
    Oil on masonite, 2 panels
    36 x 24"
    Signed, titled and dated on reverse
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Landscape X Taos , 1974
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Landscape X Taos , 1974
    oil on canvas mounted on board
    6 ¾ x 4 ¾ inches
    17.1 x 12.1 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, MacDowell Wood, 1972
    Lawrence Calcagno
    MacDowell Wood, 1972
    oil on canvas
    38 x 56 inches
    96.5 x 142.2 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Earth Constellation, 1966
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Earth Constellation, 1966
    Oil on canvas
    69 ¾ x 57 ¼ inches
    177.2 x 145.4 cm
  • abstract painting by Lawrence Calcagno
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Toward the Sea , 1966
    Charcoal and watercolor on paper
    18 x 26 ½ inches
    45.7 x 67.3 cm
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, No. 4, 1955
    Lawrence Calcagno
    No. 4, 1955
    Watercolor, 2 panels
    21 x 25 inches
    53.3 x 63.5 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, No. V
    Lawrence Calcagno
    No. V
    Gouache on paper
    38 ⅛ x 29 ½ inches
    96.8 x 74.9 cm
    Framed: 41 x 32 x 2 inches
    Framed: 104.1 x 81.3 x 5.1 cm
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Night Ritual, 195961
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Night Ritual, 195961
    oil on linen canvas
    60 x 48"
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Red Cloud, 1970
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Red Cloud, 1970
    oil on canvas
    41 x 78"
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Rio Grande, 1972
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Rio Grande, 1972
    mixed media on paper
    29.75 x 37.5
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Sentinel, 1975
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Sentinel, 1975
    Acrylic on canvas
    48 x 52 inches
    121.9 x 132.1 cm
    Titled, signed and dated
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Summer Solstice #1, 1975
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Summer Solstice #1, 1975
    Oil on canvas mounted on panel
    7 x 5 ½ inches
    17.8 x 14 cm
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Taos VIII, 1973
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Taos VIII, 1973
    Acrylic on paper
    22 x 30 inches
    55.9 x 76.2 cm
    bottom left
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, The Red Land, 1976-79
    Lawrence Calcagno
    The Red Land, 1976-79
    Acrylic on canvas
    68 x 78 inches
    172.7 x 198.1 cm
    Signed and dated verso, "Lawrence Calcagno"
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Untitled, ca. 1983
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Untitled, ca. 1983
    Acrylic on canvas
    36 x 40 inches
    91.4 x 101.6 cm
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Untitled Landscape, 1983
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Untitled Landscape, 1983
    Oil on canvas
    20 x 24 inches
    50.8 x 61 cm
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Untitled Landscape, ca. 1970
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Untitled Landscape, ca. 1970
    Acrylic on canvas
    24 x 28 inches
    61 x 71.1 cm
    Titled, signed and dated
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Horizon With Red, 1979
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Horizon With Red, 1979
    Acrylic on canvas
    18 x 20 inches
    45.7 x 50.8 cm
    Titled, signed and dated
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Dark Wheel II, 1962
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Dark Wheel II, 1962
    oil on canvas
    49 x 41 inches
    124.5 x 104.1 cm
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Cosmicscape XII, 1976
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Cosmicscape XII, 1976
    Acrylic on canvas
    40 x 64 inches
    101.6 x 162.6 cm
    Signed and dated verso
    Sold
  • Lawrence Calcagno, Mixed Media 29 III-75, 1975
    Lawrence Calcagno
    Mixed Media 29 III-75, 1975
    Mixed media on paper
    21 ½ x 29 ½ inches
    54.6 x 74.9 cm
    Signed, dated, and titled across bottom
    Sold
Exhibitions