Best Place to Sell John Grillo Original Art

Best Place to Sell Paintings

Who is painter John Grillo?

John Grillo was an American abstract painter whose work was often displayed on oversized canvases and featured beautiful and challenging compositions. He is considered one of the most influential painters from San Francisco’s Abstract Expressionism movement. Grillo was known for decades by critics as the “Renoir of abstract expressionism.” He was schooled in modern techniques and utilized these talents to create marvels of color, line, and form. Grillo believed that painting was a “physical outburst of your whole being. It’s always a challenge to shape something from nothing, to do the impossible.”

Grillo was a gifted teacher as well as a painter. He taught at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for decades. His paintings were widely exhibited throughout his lifetime including shows at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Whitney, and The Guggenheim. He received a Ford Foundation Grant to produce several lithographs at the Tamarind Lithography Workshop.

What kind of art does John Grillo make?

John Grillo was a painter who worked mainly in the Abstract Expressionism movement that started in 1960s San Francisco. He was well trained in all modern techniques, and his pieces frequently wowed critics and art collectors alike -- especially during his lifetime. He believed that his pieces shared qualities with music and that art should flow and be shaped during its creation. His influences were varied and his peers included Willem deKooning, Franz Kline, and other notables from that time period. His watercolors are especially sought after by collectors and museums, as are the pieces from his “yellow” period in the 1960s.

How did painter John Grillo get started?

John Grillo was born to Sicilian immigrant parents in 1917. They moved often throughout Grillo’s early life but eventually settled in Hartford, Connecticut. It was there that Grillo would find inspiration at the Wadsworth Antheneum Museum. In 1935 he enrolled at the Hartford School of Fine Arts as a portrait and landscape artist. During this time, he often depicted the poor and working-class in his art. In 1944, Grillo enlisted in the Navy and was sent to Okinawa during World War II. He continued to paint. When he returned from the war, he enlisted at the San Francisco School of Fine Arts where he studied under Mark Rothko. His portfolio upon graduation was given a one-man show at the Daliel Gallery in Berkeley. He received a Samuel S. Bender Award which allowed him to continue his studies at Hans Hoffman’s Schools in New York City.

How much are John Grillo paintings worth?

John Grillo paintings can be worth anywhere between $1,000 and $60,000 depending on the piece. The most ever paid for a John Grillo painting at auction is $60,000 for the piece Abstract (1957) which sold on March 11th, 2017. This was 100% over the high estimate. The John Grillo painting Forces #4 (1961) sold for $41,825 at Heritage Auctions on November 20th, 2008.

Where to buy John Grillo paintings for sale?

See works for sale below. Why buy from Heritage? Art buyers feel confident because our experts know the market and put careful valuations on artwork for sale. We make the bidding process easier to help you expand your art collection.

How to value John Grillo paintings?

The best way to value art is to compare past auction prices for similar works. View past sale prices below. When you’re ready to sell, contact Heritage Auctions to request an auction estimate of the likely selling price at auction. If you need a formal written appraisal for estate planning or insurance, please contact our Appraisal Services Department.