Frank Stella Dubiaxo, from Imaginary Places Series, 1996, is as part of Frank Stella’s ambitious Imaginary Places series, Dubiaxo exemplifies the artist’s radical expansion of printmaking into the realm of sculptural abstraction. By this period, Stella had fully abandoned the flatness that defined his early Minimalist canvases, instead embracing spatial complexity, illusionistic depth, and baroque dynamism. In Dubiaxo, multiple printmaking techniques—lithography, screenprinting, etching, aquatint, and relief—are synthesized into a richly layered composition that collapses the traditional boundaries between two-dimensional print and low-relief sculpture.

The work’s interlocking forms, centrifugal movement, and vibrant chromatic contrasts suggest an invented topography rather than a literal place, aligning with the series’ conceptual foundation: imagined landscapes that exist between architecture, cartography, and fantasy. Stella’s use of relief elements introduces actual physical depth, reinforcing his long-standing challenge to the notion that prints must remain planar. The combination of industrial precision with gestural complexity reflects Stella’s engagement with digital modeling and advanced print technologies of the 1990s, marking a decisive evolution in his practice.

Dubiaxo stands as a mature statement within Stella’s late-career oeuvre, demonstrating his mastery of collaborative printmaking and his relentless pursuit of innovation across mediums. Far from a secondary work, this print embodies Stella’s belief that printmaking could rival painting and sculpture in scale, ambition, and conceptual weight, securing its place as a significant and intellectually rigorous work within the Imaginary Places series and the broader canon of postwar American abstraction.

Created in 1996, Dubiaxo, from Imaginary Places Series, 1996 is a lithograph, screenprint, etching, aquatint, relief, and stamping on TGL paper. Hand-signed by Frank Stella in pencil in the lower center, this work is numbered Trial Proof 1, aside from the regular numbered edition of 35 in pencil in the lower center. Published by Tyler Graphics Ltd., Mount Kisco, NY.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Frank Stella Dubiaxo, from Imaginary Places Series, 1996 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work):

1. Axsom, Richard H. The Prints of Frank Stella: A Catalogue Raisonné. New York: Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation, 2016. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 239.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:
Frank Stella Dubiaxo, from Imaginary Places Series, 1996 is framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, presented in a complementary moulding and optical grade Plexiglas.

Frank Stella, born on May 12, 1936, in Malden, Massachusetts, is a renowned American painter and printmaker. He passed away at age 87 on May 4, 2024, in West Village, New York. He is celebrated for his innovative contributions to the Minimalist and Abstract Expressionist movements. Stella's work is characterized by its geometric precision, vibrant colors, and dynamic compositions.

Some of Frank’s most prestigious museum exhibitions worldwide, reflect his significant impact on contemporary art. Here are some notable exhibitions:

1. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York: MoMA has hosted several exhibitions featuring Stella's work, including his major retrospective in 1970, which showcased his early explorations in Minimalism and Abstract Expressionism.

2. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York: In 2015-2016, the Whitney Museum organized a comprehensive retrospective titled 'Frank Stella: A Retrospective," highlighting his prolific career from the late 1950s to the present. This exhibition underscored Stella's versatility and innovation across different media.

3. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York: Stella's work has been prominently displayed at the Guggenheim, including in the 1995 exhibition "Frank Stella: A Retrospective," which provided an extensive overview of his career, from his early paintings to his more recent three-dimensional works.

4. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA): In 2002, SFMOMA hosted "Frank Stella: Painting into Architecture," which examined Stella's transition from two-dimensional paintings to three-dimensional architectural forms.

5. Centre Pompidou, Paris: In 1988, the Centre Pompidou presented a major exhibition of Stella's work, emphasizing his influence on both American and European art scenes.

6. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.: Stella's work has been featured in multiple exhibitions at the Hirschhorn, including a 1976 retrospective that showcased his evolving style and technique.

These exhibitions have cemented Frank Stella's reputation as a pioneering artist who continues to influence contemporary art with his innovative approach and creative vision.

HOW DO I BUY FRANK STELLA DUBIAXO?

We are a leading specialist on Frank Stella artworks and we offer one of the best and most cost-effective ways for you to buy a Frank Stella work. Our gallery, Masterworks Fine Art, has the largest collection of Frank Stella works for sale and we are constantly buying new pieces to add to our collection. You can view our collection here, you can also call or email us to find other works we are currently curating for our inventory.

HOW DO I SELL FRANK STELLA DUBIAXO?

If you have a Frank Stella to sell, we are the best option. We provide a safe and smooth process to sell your work. From buying your artwork outright to taking it on consignment. We can provide options for you to decide which option is best for you. You can click here to start the process. Whatever the reason may be in which you need to sell, Masterworks Fine Art Gallery specializes in Frank Stella and we are ready to help you!