Untitled

Painted in 1978, this substantial oil on canvas is a powerful example of William Gear’s mature abstraction, combining an intensely coloured palette with the strong structural forms that remained central to his work throughout his career.

The composition is constructed from dramatic, angular passages of black interspersed with clusters of vivid yellow, blue, red and violet. These contrasting elements create a complex visual rhythm across the large canvas, balancing geometric structure with the spontaneity and energy that characterised Gear’s distinctive approach to abstraction.

At over 1.2 metres high, the painting has considerable presence. Its scale allows the interplay between the sharply defined dark forms and densely worked areas of colour to become almost immersive, demonstrating Gear’s continuing exploration of the tension between structure, colour and expressive mark-making.

The work comes directly from the family of William Gear, providing an excellent provenance. Signed and dated 1978, and further signed and dated verso, it is a particularly striking example of the artist’s later twentieth-century work.

Research & Institutional References

Historical Context

Although Gear’s involvement with CoBrA was relatively brief, the movement’s emphasis on spontaneity, expressive colour and freedom of form remained relevant to his wider practice. By the 1970s, these influences had evolved into a mature and highly individual abstract language in which bold structural forms were combined with vibrant, energetic passages of colour.

Public Collections

William Gear’s works are held in numerous collection in the UK and around the world, most notably in his native Scotland.

CoBrA

After settling in Paris following the Second World War, Gear became associated with leading European avant-garde artists including Karel Appel, Constant, Corneille and Asger Jorn. He participated in the CoBrA movement and exhibited with the group in Amsterdam and Copenhagen in 1949, making him an important British link to one of post-war Europe’s most influential avant-garde movements.