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Biography

David Novros (b. 1941, Los Angeles, CA) is known for both his large, abstract paintings on irregularly shaped, multipartite canvases and also site-specific works that push beyond internal pictorial space to engage the surrounding architectural context. His work was first exhibited in a two-person show with Mark di Suvero in 1965 at the Park Place Gallery, and was included in the hugely influential Systemic Painting at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York in 1966. His work has been exhibited in prominent venues, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art; the Dallas Museum of Fine Art; and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Novros’s works are owned by international institutions, with significant collections held at the Museum Wiesbaden, Germany, and the Menil Collection, Houston. In 2021, Novros’s immersive installation of painted rooms created for the 1975 exhibition Marden, Novros, Rothko: Painting in the Age of Actuality was reinstalled for the first time at the Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University, Houston, TX. Novros lives and works in New York City.

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
David Novros Phoenix, June-September 2018 oil on canvas ​3 panels, each: 80 x 40 in. (203.2 x 101.6 cm); overall: 80 x 120 in. (203.2 x 304.8 cm).

David Novros
Phoenix, June-September 2018
oil on canvas
3 panels, each: 80 x 40 in. (203.2 x 101.6 cm); overall: 80 x 120 in. (203.2 x 304.8 cm).

David Novros Salidas, 2012-2016 (installation 2017) oil on canvas Collection of the Museum Wiesbaden, Germany

David Novros
Salidas, 2012-2016
(installation 2017)
oil on canvas
Collection of the Museum Wiesbaden, Germany

David Novros Untitled, 1975 oil on canvas, 2 panels ​overall: 117 1/4 x 168 x 2 in. (297.8 x 426.7 x 5.1 cm).

David Novros
Untitled, 1975
oil on canvas, 2 panels
overall: 117 1/4 x 168 x 2 in. (297.8 x 426.7 x 5.1 cm).

David Novros Untitled (Frog Altar), 1975 oil on canvas 84 x 168 x 2 in. (213.4 x 426.7 x 5.1 cm) overall.

David Novros
Untitled (Frog Altar), 1975
oil on canvas
84 x 168 x 2 in. (213.4 x 426.7 x 5.1 cm) overall.

David Novros Lent Painting, 1975 oil on canvas 78 x 300 in. (198.1 x 762 cm) overall.
David Novros Lent Painting, (detail), 1975 oil on canvas 78 x 300 in. (198.1 x 762 cm) overall.
David Novros Lent Painting, (detail), 1975 oil on canvas 78 x 300 in. (198.1 x 762 cm) overall.
David Novros Lent Painting, (detail), 1975 oil on canvas 78 x 300 in. (198.1 x 762 cm) overall.
David Novros Lent Painting, 1975 oil on canvas 78 x 300 in. (198.1 x 762 cm) overall.

David Novros
Lent Painting, 1975
oil on canvas
78 x 300 in. (198.1 x 762 cm) overall.

David Novros Untitled, 1974, charcoal and red oil paint on Arches paper 22 3/4 x 59 1/4 in. (57.8 x 150.5 cm)

David Novros
Untitled, 1974,
charcoal and red oil paint on Arches paper
22 3/4 x 59 1/4 in. (57.8 x 150.5 cm)

David Novros, Installation view, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, 2009.

David Novros, Installation view, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, 2009.

David Novros Untitled, 1965 acrylic on canvas ​2 panels total overall: 132 x 60 in. (335.3 x 152.4 cm)

David Novros
Untitled, 1965
acrylic on canvas
2 panels total overall: 132 x 60 in. (335.3 x 152.4 cm)

David Novros, untitled, 2019, watercolor on paper, 16 1/4 x 13 1/4 x 1 3/8 in. (41.3 x 33.7 x 3.5 cm)

David Novros
untitled, 2019
watercolor on paper
16 1/4 x 13 1/4 x 1 3/8 in. (41.3 x 33.7 x 3.5 cm)

David Novros
Untitled, 1966/2000
acrylic on canvas, white with Murano pink
approx. overall: 84 x 144 in. (213.4 x 365.8 cm) 4 panels each (A,B,C,D) Panel 1: 19 3/8 x 97 x 2 1/2 in. (49.2 x 246.4 x 6.4 cm) panel 2: 19 1/2 x 109 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. (49.5 x 277.5 x 6.4 cm) panel 3: 20 x 109 x 2 1/2 in. (50.8 x 276.9 x 6.4 cm) panel 4: 19 1/2 x 104 x 2 1/2 in. (49.5 x 264.2 x 6.4 cm)
Photo by Farzad Owrang

David Novros
Untitled, 1966/2000
acrylic on canvas, white with Murano pink
approx. overall: 84 x 144 in. (213.4 x 365.8 cm) 4 panels each (A,B,C,D) Panel 1: 19 3/8 x 97 x 2 1/2 in. (49.2 x 246.4 x 6.4 cm) panel 2: 19 1/2 x 109 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. (49.5 x 277.5 x 6.4 cm) panel 3: 20 x 109 x 2 1/2 in. (50.8 x 276.9 x 6.4 cm) panel 4: 19 1/2 x 104 x 2 1/2 in. (49.5 x 264.2 x 6.4 cm)
Photo by Farzad Owrang

David Novros Untitled, 1966 acrylic lacquer on canvas 3 panels each 98 5/8 x 93 x 1 1/2 in. (250.5 x 236.2 x 3.8 cm); approx. overall: 98 5/8 x 250 x 1 1/2 in. (250.5 x 635 x 3.8 cm).

David Novros
Untitled, 1966
acrylic lacquer on canvas
3 panels each 98 5/8 x 93 x 1 1/2 in. (250.5 x 236.2 x 3.8 cm); approx. overall: 98 5/8 x 250 x 1 1/2 in. (250.5 x 635 x 3.8 cm).

David Novros Untitled, 1966-67 acrylic lacquer/ dacron ​3 panels @: 18 x 81 x 2 in. (45.7 x 205.7 x 5.1 cm) 6 panels; 3 panels @: 12 x 54 x 1 in. (30.5 x 137.2 x 2.5 cm); overall: 102 x 162 x 1 in. (259.1 x 411.5 x 2.5 cm).

David Novros
Untitled, 1966-67
acrylic lacquer/ dacron
3 panels @: 18 x 81 x 2 in. (45.7 x 205.7 x 5.1 cm) 6 panels; 3 panels @: 12 x 54 x 1 in. (30.5 x 137.2 x 2.5 cm); overall: 102 x 162 x 1 in. (259.1 x 411.5 x 2.5 cm).

David Novros Untitled, 1973 fresco Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1973.

David Novros
Untitled, 1973
fresco
Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1973.

David Novros Phoenix, June-September 2018 oil on canvas ​3 panels, each: 80 x 40 in. (203.2 x 101.6 cm); overall: 80 x 120 in. (203.2 x 304.8 cm).

David Novros
Phoenix, June-September 2018
oil on canvas
3 panels, each: 80 x 40 in. (203.2 x 101.6 cm); overall: 80 x 120 in. (203.2 x 304.8 cm).

David Novros Salidas, 2012-2016 (installation 2017) oil on canvas Collection of the Museum Wiesbaden, Germany

David Novros
Salidas, 2012-2016
(installation 2017)
oil on canvas
Collection of the Museum Wiesbaden, Germany

David Novros Untitled, 1975 oil on canvas, 2 panels ​overall: 117 1/4 x 168 x 2 in. (297.8 x 426.7 x 5.1 cm).

David Novros
Untitled, 1975
oil on canvas, 2 panels
overall: 117 1/4 x 168 x 2 in. (297.8 x 426.7 x 5.1 cm).

David Novros Untitled (Frog Altar), 1975 oil on canvas 84 x 168 x 2 in. (213.4 x 426.7 x 5.1 cm) overall.

David Novros
Untitled (Frog Altar), 1975
oil on canvas
84 x 168 x 2 in. (213.4 x 426.7 x 5.1 cm) overall.

David Novros Lent Painting, 1975 oil on canvas 78 x 300 in. (198.1 x 762 cm) overall.

David Novros
Lent Painting, 1975
oil on canvas
78 x 300 in. (198.1 x 762 cm) overall.

David Novros Untitled, 1974, charcoal and red oil paint on Arches paper 22 3/4 x 59 1/4 in. (57.8 x 150.5 cm)

David Novros
Untitled, 1974,
charcoal and red oil paint on Arches paper
22 3/4 x 59 1/4 in. (57.8 x 150.5 cm)

David Novros, Installation view, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, 2009.

David Novros, Installation view, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, 2009.

David Novros Untitled, 1965 acrylic on canvas ​2 panels total overall: 132 x 60 in. (335.3 x 152.4 cm)

David Novros
Untitled, 1965
acrylic on canvas
2 panels total overall: 132 x 60 in. (335.3 x 152.4 cm)

David Novros, untitled, 2019, watercolor on paper, 16 1/4 x 13 1/4 x 1 3/8 in. (41.3 x 33.7 x 3.5 cm)

David Novros
untitled, 2019
watercolor on paper
16 1/4 x 13 1/4 x 1 3/8 in. (41.3 x 33.7 x 3.5 cm)

David Novros
Untitled, 1966/2000
acrylic on canvas, white with Murano pink
approx. overall: 84 x 144 in. (213.4 x 365.8 cm) 4 panels each (A,B,C,D) Panel 1: 19 3/8 x 97 x 2 1/2 in. (49.2 x 246.4 x 6.4 cm) panel 2: 19 1/2 x 109 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. (49.5 x 277.5 x 6.4 cm) panel 3: 20 x 109 x 2 1/2 in. (50.8 x 276.9 x 6.4 cm) panel 4: 19 1/2 x 104 x 2 1/2 in. (49.5 x 264.2 x 6.4 cm)
Photo by Farzad Owrang

David Novros
Untitled, 1966/2000
acrylic on canvas, white with Murano pink
approx. overall: 84 x 144 in. (213.4 x 365.8 cm) 4 panels each (A,B,C,D) Panel 1: 19 3/8 x 97 x 2 1/2 in. (49.2 x 246.4 x 6.4 cm) panel 2: 19 1/2 x 109 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. (49.5 x 277.5 x 6.4 cm) panel 3: 20 x 109 x 2 1/2 in. (50.8 x 276.9 x 6.4 cm) panel 4: 19 1/2 x 104 x 2 1/2 in. (49.5 x 264.2 x 6.4 cm)
Photo by Farzad Owrang

David Novros Untitled, 1966 acrylic lacquer on canvas 3 panels each 98 5/8 x 93 x 1 1/2 in. (250.5 x 236.2 x 3.8 cm); approx. overall: 98 5/8 x 250 x 1 1/2 in. (250.5 x 635 x 3.8 cm).

David Novros
Untitled, 1966
acrylic lacquer on canvas
3 panels each 98 5/8 x 93 x 1 1/2 in. (250.5 x 236.2 x 3.8 cm); approx. overall: 98 5/8 x 250 x 1 1/2 in. (250.5 x 635 x 3.8 cm).

David Novros Untitled, 1966-67 acrylic lacquer/ dacron ​3 panels @: 18 x 81 x 2 in. (45.7 x 205.7 x 5.1 cm) 6 panels; 3 panels @: 12 x 54 x 1 in. (30.5 x 137.2 x 2.5 cm); overall: 102 x 162 x 1 in. (259.1 x 411.5 x 2.5 cm).

David Novros
Untitled, 1966-67
acrylic lacquer/ dacron
3 panels @: 18 x 81 x 2 in. (45.7 x 205.7 x 5.1 cm) 6 panels; 3 panels @: 12 x 54 x 1 in. (30.5 x 137.2 x 2.5 cm); overall: 102 x 162 x 1 in. (259.1 x 411.5 x 2.5 cm).

David Novros Untitled, 1973 fresco Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1973.

David Novros
Untitled, 1973
fresco
Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1973.