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)

Untitled, 1989

John Wesley

Untitled, 1989

Sale Date: July 18, 2023

Auction Closed

The Days of War and Laughter (from 1969), 1992

John Wesley

The Days of War and Laughter (from 1969), 1992

Sale Date: May 9, 2023

Auction Closed

Good Night Mary, 1999

John Wesley

Good Night Mary, 1999

Sale Date: May 16, 2023

Auction Closed

Phone, 1982

John Wesley

Sale Date: May 16, 2023

Auction Closed

Mary Lou & Her Sister, 1992

John Wesley

Mary Lou & Her Sister, 1992

Sale Date: May 18, 2023

Auction Closed

Fruit Tree, 1996

John Wesley

Fruit Tree, 1996

Sale Date: May 18, 2023

Auction Closed

Teresa and the Apprentices, 1968

John Wesley

Teresa and the Apprentices, 1968

Sale Date: May 18, 2023

Auction Closed

Popeye, 1973

John Wesley

Sale Date: May 17, 2023

Auction Closed

Hootie's Wife, 2005

John Wesley

Hootie's Wife, 2005

Sale Date: April 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Red Lips, 2005

John Wesley

Red Lips, 2005

Sale Date: April 20, 2023

Auction Closed

Splash, 1974

John Wesley

Sale Date: April 19, 2023

Auction Closed

Bird Lady (From: 11 Pop Artists, Volume II), 1965

John Wesley

Bird Lady (From: 11 Pop Artists, Volume II), 1965

Sale Date: March 9, 2023

Auction Closed

Dream of Unicorns (From: 11 Pop Artists,..., 1965

John Wesley

Dream of Unicorns (From: 11 Pop Artists,..., 1965

Sale Date: March 9, 2023

Auction Closed

Getting off the Subway at St. Tropez, 1979

John Wesley

Getting off the Subway at St. Tropez, 1979

Sale Date: March 9, 2023

Auction Closed

Woman Falling Asleep, 1993

John Wesley

Woman Falling Asleep, 1993

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

Bird Lady, from 11 Pop Artists, Volume II, 1965

John Wesley

Bird Lady, from 11 Pop Artists, Volume II, 1965

Sale Date: February 15, 2023

Auction Closed

Under the Sea of Japan, 1990, 1990

John Wesley

Under the Sea of Japan, 1990, 1990

Sale Date: December 9, 2022

Auction Closed

Whats Going On In The Halls, 1971

John Wesley

Whats Going On In The Halls, 1971

Sale Date: November 18, 2022

Auction Closed

The Arrival of Count de Balliet-Latour, 1963

John Wesley

The Arrival of Count de Balliet-Latour, 1963

Sale Date: November 18, 2022

Auction Closed

Cheep, 2002

John Wesley

Sale Date: November 16, 2022

Auction Closed

Let's Get Out of the Hall, 1971

John Wesley

Let's Get Out of the Hall, 1971

Sale Date: November 16, 2022

Auction Closed

Donny's Blue Eyed Wife, 2001

John Wesley

Donny's Blue Eyed Wife, 2001

Sale Date: November 17, 2022

Auction Closed

Bus Stop in Downtown Iceland, 1984

John Wesley

Bus Stop in Downtown Iceland, 1984

Sale Date: November 17, 2022

Auction Closed

Alice, 1964

John Wesley

Sale Date: October 27, 2022

Auction Closed

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English (US)

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