Jakob Gasteiger Untitled 2014

Jakob Gasteiger (*Salzburg 1953) developed his minimalist pictorial concept in the early 1980s and has consistently pursued it ever since. In his two studios in Vienna and Lower Austria he is artistically active both as a painter and a sculptor.
In his paintings, Gasteiger uses a comb spatula to shape the color, be it thicker oil paint or smoother acrylic paint. The cardboard comb takes the place of the painter’s brush. Of great importance is the rhythmic implementation of the meticulously planned relief structures. Random also matters in this process. Thus, the artist himself states about his work: “I do have a precise idea regarding format, color, paint texture, comb thickness, structure direction, but these parameters also determine me and thus the result.”
This monochrome painting is executed in black oil color. Gasteiger’s paintings in this technique are rare, because the drying process, especially with such a thickly applied layer, takes much longer than with works in acrylic. Patience, however, is rewarded with a rich glossy hue that further emphasizes the sculptural nature of these paintings.
His firm place in Austrian contemporary Fine Art is documented by solo exhibitions in major museums, such as the Salzburg Museum in 2016/17, where this characteristic work could be admired.