Michael Ornauer

The first organic-abstract paintings came about while I was still painting representationally. Back then, the color fields were an underpainting, over which I would add figurative elements. The abstract underpainting remained visible in many places, breaking through the subject laid on top. This transitional phase lasted several years; the first completely abstract works emerged in 2017.

That’s when I suddenly realized that my entire painterly interest had long since shifted to the underpainting, and I was no longer interested in developing a subject. Representation had become obsolete — all my artistic questions were already being addressed without it. Beyond that, the meaning layer of objects began to feel superfluous, distracting, even obstructive.

The way I’ve since built up my organic-abstract paintings involves many layers. I apply oil paint layer by layer on the canvas, following no fixed method.

Rather, I try to “let it grow” — hence the term “organic”.