John Wesley

(American, 1928–2022)

John Wesley is a contemporary American painter. Characterized by his uniquely graphic, flattened Pop paintings, Wesley’s work addresses themes of sexuality and erotica through stylized and symmetrically composed images. Rendered in distinctive pink and blue pastel hues, Wesley repeats the same graphic symbolic images in tessellation-like patterns on his large canvases, and regularly employs leitmotifs like pornography and avian fowl—often to humorous effect—throughout his oeuvre. Though his paintings are reminiscent of his contemporary Tom Wesselmann, his personal associations were with peers Dan Flavin and Donald Judd, and he was inspired by both the Minimalist and Surrealist movements. That being said, “I didn’t go out and try to be a Surrealist,” Wesley explained of his ambiguous imagery. “It was just fun doing what I was doing.” Born on November 25, 1928 in Los Angeles, CA, he was a self-taught artist who worked for several years an illustrator for the avian industry. His work has been critically acclaimed throughout his career, and he has been the subject of several retrospectives, notably including at the PS1 Contemporary Art Center in New York in 2000.

John Wesley Artworks

John Wesley (388 results)

Breton sailor, 2002

John Wesley

Breton sailor, 2002

Sale Date: September 22, 2010

Auction Closed

Swee'pea, 1992

John Wesley

Swee'pea, 1992

Sale Date: September 25, 2010

Auction Closed

Armada, 1983

John Wesley

Sale Date: July 1, 2010

Auction Closed

Red lips, 2005

John Wesley

Red lips, 2005

Sale Date: June 4, 2010

Auction Closed

Hootie's wife, 2005

John Wesley

Hootie's wife, 2005

Sale Date: June 4, 2010

Auction Closed

Paris review, 1965

John Wesley

Paris review, 1965

Sale Date: May 12, 2010

Auction Closed

Utamaro washing, Bumstead sleeping, 2003

John Wesley

Utamaro washing, Bumstead sleeping, 2003

Sale Date: May 12, 2010

Auction Closed

Pacific, 1998

John Wesley

Pacific, 1998

Sale Date: May 13, 2010

Auction Closed

Dream of unicorns (from 11 pop artists,..., 1965

John Wesley

Dream of unicorns (from 11 pop artists,..., 1965

Sale Date: April 7, 2010

Auction Closed

Black bow, 1966

John Wesley

Black bow, 1966

Sale Date: April 7, 2010

Auction Closed

3 clean old ladies, 1966

John Wesley

3 clean old ladies, 1966

Sale Date: April 7, 2010

Auction Closed

Paradise lamp (in 2 parts), 1967

John Wesley

Paradise lamp (in 2 parts), 1967

Sale Date: April 7, 2010

Auction Closed

Bird lady, 1965

John Wesley

Bird lady, 1965

Sale Date: March 10, 2010

Auction Closed

Birds, 1982

John Wesley

Sale Date: November 11, 2009

Auction Closed

White hand over nice, 1974

John Wesley

White hand over nice, 1974

Sale Date: November 11, 2009

Auction Closed

Woodrow Wilson crossing the Delaware with..., 1976

John Wesley

Woodrow Wilson crossing the Delaware with..., 1976

Sale Date: November 12, 2009

Auction Closed

Three sunbathers, 1982

John Wesley

Three sunbathers, 1982

Sale Date: November 12, 2009

Auction Closed

Under the sea of Japan, 1991

John Wesley

Under the sea of Japan, 1991

Sale Date: November 15, 2009

Auction Closed

Mode d'emploi Irish women (in 2 parts), 1988

John Wesley

Mode d'emploi Irish women (in 2 parts), 1988

Sale Date: September 23, 2009

Auction Closed

Panoply (portfolio of 7 w/title & justif.), 1971

John Wesley

Panoply (portfolio of 7 w/title & justif.), 1971

Sale Date: July 1, 2009

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1991

John Wesley

Untitled, 1991

Sale Date: May 14, 2009

Auction Closed

Flood: Johnstown, Pennsylvania: 1889, 1976

John Wesley

Flood: Johnstown, Pennsylvania: 1889, 1976

Sale Date: May 14, 2009

Auction Closed

Van Nuys honeymoon, 2002

John Wesley

Van Nuys honeymoon, 2002

Sale Date: May 13, 2009

Auction Closed

Getting off the Subway at St. Tropez, 1992

John Wesley

Getting off the Subway at St. Tropez, 1992

Sale Date: April 21, 2009

Auction Closed

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