The Artistic Evolution of Elliott Thompson
Born in Newport, United States, Elliott Thompson began his journey as a painter later in life, following a career as a civil servant. His formal training included studies at the Académie André Lhote in Paris and the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC. After retiring from federal service in 1967, he transitioned into a professional artist, producing non-objective abstract works. His practice involved using oil and acrylic on prepared or raw canvas, often utilizing a formal, systematic approach to composition.
His body of work is characterized by several distinct phases:
- Early paintings featuring geometric shapes in black and white.
- Later works utilizing color, often set against monochromatic backgrounds.
- A series of paintings on square canvases in black, white, beige, and gray.
- A series of colored paintings on trapezoidal canvases.
Style and Exhibition History
Thompson's style was described by critics as mathematical and sequential, characterized by precise compositions of squares, lines, and zig-zag patterns. His work often evoked a sense of musicality and rhythm. During his most productive period in the early 1970s, his paintings were exhibited in various settings, including the White House and through the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services.
Notable aspects of his career include:
As his eyesight began to decline due to glaucoma in 1987, Thompson ceased painting to focus on teaching and personal projects.
