Timeline

David Geiser was an abstract expressionist painter, born in Rochester NY. He studied at the University of Vermont and the Art Students League. In 1969, he made a decision to move to San Francisco, detouring his acceptance at Yale. Once there (1970’s) he immersed himself in the underground comic scene, illustrating with a group of like-minded underground comic creators. David left San Francisco for Paris in 1976, to study classical painting at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He returned in 1980, settling in Soho, NY- moving into abstract expressionism.

His paintings are tactile and deep, often being composed of many layers of shellac, pitch, tar, rope and scrap wood. David’s body of work also includes abstract mixed-media pieces created on irregular shapes of parchment, a series he returned to over a period of 20 years, with lavish, layered oil paintings featuring organic forms on board.

The noted art historian, curator, and museum director Peter Selz said of Mr. Geiser's art, “David Geiser's work is about transforming matter into spirit. His stunning pieces ascend from the basic life force of nature."

David moved to East Hampton in 2000 with his longtime partner, actress Mercedes Ruehl and their son, Jake. A son from a previous marriage, Cameron Geiser, lives in Montara, California.