The still-life painting tradition has been constant one in our society. The representation of an assemblage of objects from the everyday world has captivated artists and their audiences throughout history. Whether considering Dutch 17th-century paintings or cubist compositions, the interest remains constant. Donald Sultan's works fit perfectly in this tradition, while at the same time offering a springboard into the next century.
While Sultan's subjects may appear ordinary, they become extraordinary by their representation. Fabulous oranges, lemons, and flowers dominate the surface with their brilliant colors and bold forms. They demand our attention by virtue of their medium, size, color, and composition. Sultan's paintings, with their weight and scale, with their sculptural mass, and their references to the past, draw the viewer in by their boldness, confrontational directness, and surreal quality.
