James Siena

(American, born 1957)

James Siena is a contemporary American artist known for his complex abstract paintings and prints. Siena composes his works using a set of rules he calls “visual algorithms,” to create asymmetrical patterns that resemble floating diagrams. “At a certain point I wanted to make drawings and works that act as machines,” he said. “The way they act as machines is you have to find your way into them and find your way out of them. As you undo the making of them they come to life.” Born on October 28, 1957 in Oceanside, CA, he grew up in Washington, D.C. and went on to attend Cornell University. After finishing school in 1979, Siena moved to New York where he was mentored by both Alan Saret and Chuck Close about how to navigate the art world. He continues to live and work in New York, NY. Today, the artist’s works are held in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Hammer Museum at UCLA, among others.

James Siena Artworks

James Siena (251 results)
Ramparts (after spacelock), 1999–2000

James Siena

Ramparts (after spacelock), 1999–2000

Sale Date: March 15, 2023

Auction Closed

Corner drawing, second version, 2000

James Siena

Corner drawing, second version, 2000

Sale Date: March 15, 2023

Auction Closed

Enderlocke, 2020

James Siena

Enderlocke, 2020

Sale Date: September 9, 2022

Auction Closed

Two Puckered Systems, Itnerlocked., 2006

James Siena

Two Puckered Systems, Itnerlocked., 2006

Sale Date: May 26, 2022

Auction Closed

Drawing after Global Key., 2001

James Siena

Drawing after Global Key., 2001

Sale Date: May 12, 2022

Auction Closed

Nine Constant Windows, Second Version, 2002

James Siena

Nine Constant Windows, Second Version, 2002

Sale Date: December 17, 2021

Auction Closed

Flat Battered Boy, 2008

James Siena

Flat Battered Boy, 2008

Sale Date: December 14, 2021

Auction Closed

Shaded Recursive Combs, 2009

James Siena

Shaded Recursive Combs, 2009

Sale Date: December 3, 2021

Auction Closed

Numbered Triangle Sequence., 2012

James Siena

Numbered Triangle Sequence., 2012

Sale Date: November 16, 2021

Auction Closed

SIENA, JAMES. Oaths? Questions?, 2009

James Siena

SIENA, JAMES. Oaths? Questions?, 2009

Sale Date: November 9, 2021

Auction Closed

Recursive Infected Lighthouse, 2004

James Siena

Recursive Infected Lighthouse, 2004

Sale Date: November 10, 2021

Auction Closed

Shaded Recursive Combs, 2009

James Siena

Shaded Recursive Combs, 2009

Sale Date: October 14, 2021

Auction Closed

Nested Unknots, 2004

James Siena

Nested Unknots, 2004

Sale Date: October 14, 2021

Auction Closed

Blue Corner Painting, 2000

James Siena

Blue Corner Painting, 2000

Sale Date: October 4, 2021

Auction Closed

Heliopolis, 2004

James Siena

Heliopolis, 2004

Sale Date: September 28, 2021

Auction Closed

Upside Down Devil Variation (2004), 2004

James Siena

Upside Down Devil Variation (2004), 2004

Sale Date: September 2, 2021

Auction Closed

Pathway, 2000

James Siena

Pathway, 2000

Sale Date: September 14, 2021

Auction Closed

Angry Form With Spines, 2001

James Siena

Angry Form With Spines, 2001

Sale Date: July 21, 2021

Auction Closed

Shaded Connected Hooks, 2007

James Siena

Shaded Connected Hooks, 2007

Sale Date: June 16, 2021

Auction Closed

Untitled (Holiday Print), 2006

James Siena

Untitled (Holiday Print), 2006

Sale Date: May 19, 2021

Auction Closed

No Man's Land, 2004

James Siena

No Man's Land, 2004

Sale Date: May 19, 2021

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1992

Les Levine, Judith Weinperson and James Siena

Untitled, 1992

Sale Date: March 3, 2021

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1986

James Siena

Untitled, 1986

Sale Date: March 11, 2021

Auction Closed

Bracket painting (after jury duty #2), 1999

James Siena

Bracket painting (after jury duty #2), 1999

Sale Date: March 11, 2021

Auction Closed