Acrylic Paintings for Sale

Acrylic paintings are just beginning their journey throughout the extensive world of art history. Popularity was easily gained as artists were intrigued by the consistency, malleability, and bright pigments that were offered by this new synthetic material. It quickly became the preferred medium by many innovative artists such as Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Robert Motherwell, and Mark Rothko.

Pop art pioneer Andy Warhol was attracted to acrylic paints since they embodied the message he wished to send. Cheap, fabricated, easy to manufacture paints matched the processed culture he wanted to shed a light on with his artwork. He constructed images of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Campbell’s soup cans, and car crashes to name a few.

Warhol had a shift in tone after June 1968, when he was shot three times, declared dead, and miraculously survived. He was hospitalized for 8 weeks and had to wear a surgical corset for the rest of his life. His early death 19 years later could have been avoided if he did not develop a fear of hospitals after his near death experience. In his own diary, he would state that his creativity declined because he stopped being around “creepy people” post-shooting. He switched from his more graphic statement pieces to a less aggressive approach on the state of the world and media.

In 1880, Swiss chemist Georg W.A. Kahlbaum discovered acrylic resins. These latex paints would benefit the future art collectors since they are virtually weatherproof, fast drying, and do not yellow nearly as quickly as their counterparts. The earliest acrylic art collectors may have visited the gallery of Mexican social realist painter David Siqeiros in 1936. Siqueiros hosted a workshop displaying some experimental pieces created with new synthetic paints and lacquers. Jackson Pollock was one of his attendees which would later bring vivid action paintings into the world. By 1953, the first mass produced commercial paints were made available to the public. This revolutionized the art collector’s world by bringing forth a new medium for us to view.

The artists at UGallery meld traditional acrylic painting techniques with their own unique story and style. Read what our acrylic painters Pat Forbes and Robert Hofherr have to say about their preferred medium.

“The flexibility of acrylics cannot be understated. It is exciting to manipulate this medium because it is quick and immediate. I continue to play and try new things with acrylics every day.” - Acrylic artist Pat Forbes

“I can apply acrylic paint as thickly as I like to. The vibrancy and intense colors acrylic provides me with creates lots of choices and a pleasant painting experience.” - Acrylic artist Robert Hofherr