BROR ALEXANDER UTTER (American, 1913-1993)
Abstract Figures, 1947
Watercolor and gouache on paper
11 x 12 inches (27.9 x 30.5 cm)
Signed lower right: Bror Utter '47

From the Estate of Kelly Fearing.
Abstract Figures was produced during Bror Utter's most artistically innovative period. The return of peace in 1945 triggered an explosion of creativity among American artists, and Utter, working in Fort Worth, was fully engaged in the movement. About 1945, he created an approach to abstraction that was unique in post-war Texas; one that he called the embellished form. Embellished forms were biomorphic shapes that relied on vaguely recognizable human characteristics for their substance and credibility. Some appeared to have legs or arms or heads, though it was hard to be sure. These fanciful shapes were presented in an array of soft colors and placed on carefully textured backgrounds to create mysterious, self-contained worlds that could be observed but never unlocked. The allure of Utter's embellished forms propelled him for a time to local and statewide prominence.

With multiple Roman arches incorporated into the composition, Abstract Figures is an intriguing variant of the embellished form approach and represents a brief but shining moment in Utter's illustrious career