John Grillo

(American, 1917–2014)

John Grillo was an American Abstract Expressionist painter whose brightly colorful works represent a unique vision with the movement. His works are appreciate for their golden luminosity and lush brushwork that is comparable to earlier masterful painters such as J.M.W. Turner or Peter Paul Rubens. Filled with a lyrical rhythmic quality, Grillo once said that “abstract painting is on a level with music. It’s a physical outburst from your whole being. It’s not the idea that is created and then you start painting. It’s always a challenge to shape something from nothing, to do the impossible.” Born on July 4, 1917 in Lawrence, MA, the young artist was initially influenced by the Ashcan School of painters, including John Sloan and Robert Henri, while attending the Hartford School of Fine Arts. After serving in the US Navy, he studied at the San Francisco School of Fine Arts under Bay Area Figurative artist Richard Diebenkorn before moving to New York and taking classes with Hans Hofmann, who became and lifelong influence on and supporter of Grillo. Today, his works are in the collections of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Grillo died on November 26, 2014 in Hyannis, MA.

John Grillo Artworks

John Grillo (165 results)
Untitled, 1950

John Grillo

Untitled, 1950

Hollis Taggart

Price on Request

Untitled, 1950

John Grillo

Untitled, 1950

Galleria Open Art

Price on Request

LIVING ROOM, 1978

John Grillo

LIVING ROOM, 1978

Alpha 137 Gallery

Price on Request

Untitled, 2003

John Grillo

Untitled, 2003

Aaron Galleries

Price on Request

Two Women, 2000

John Grillo

Two Women, 2000

Aaron Galleries

Price on Request

Tango, 1999

John Grillo

Tango, 1999

Aaron Galleries

Price on Request

Girl with Hat III, 1979

John Grillo

Girl with Hat III, 1979

Sale Date: May 1, 2024

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1960

John Grillo

Untitled, 1960

Sale Date: March 27, 2024

Auction Closed

Untitled, (#373)., 1960

John Grillo

Untitled, (#373)., 1960

Sale Date: November 30, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1960

John Grillo

Untitled, 1960

Sale Date: October 19, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled (Seated Figure), 1981

John Grillo

Untitled (Seated Figure), 1981

Sale Date: September 27, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1964

John Grillo

Untitled, 1964

Sale Date: June 1, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled #462, 1960

John Grillo

Untitled #462, 1960

Sale Date: May 17, 2023

Auction Closed

Inky The Lion, 1956, 1956

John Grillo

Inky The Lion, 1956, 1956

Sale Date: February 28, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1960

John Grillo

Untitled, 1960

Sale Date: January 31, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled (Abstract Composition), 1961

John Grillo

Untitled (Abstract Composition), 1961

Sale Date: November 17, 2022

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1959

John Grillo

Untitled, 1959

Sale Date: November 5, 2022

Auction Closed

Girl with Hat VI, 1979

John Grillo

Girl with Hat VI, 1979

Sale Date: September 22, 2022

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1960

John Grillo

Untitled, 1960

Sale Date: October 19, 2022

Auction Closed

Faces

John Grillo

Faces

Sale Date: March 12, 2022

Auction Closed