Abstract painting comprised of two sheets of paper covered in primary colored scribbles adhered to a canvas together by Jean Dubuffet, shown at Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art.
Jean Dubufet, Mire G53 (Kowloon) (1983). Courtesy of Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

Jean Dubuffet stands as one of the juggernauts of art history, a pivotal figure who, despite not fully dedicating himself to art-making until his early forties, was prodigious in his output. The result is an oeuvre that is marked both by its diversity of medium—from prints, paintings, and sculptures to architectural designs, textiles, and design objects—and pervasive experimentation. Drawing sharp focus on the artist’s later career, Los Angeles gallery Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art is presenting “Outside the Lines: Late Paintings of Jean Dubuffet,” a concise exhibition showcasing works dated from 1979 to 1983.

Installation view of “Outside the Lines: Late Paintings of Jean Dubuffet” (2024). Courtesy of Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

Comprised of eight works from three series, “Brefs exercices d’école journalière,” “Psycho-sites,” and “Mires,” the show reflects three years of meticulous work by the gallery to bring the pieces together. Arguably, at the heart of the show are five paintings from the “Psycho-site” series, recently acquired by the gallery. The series contains roughly 500 works, reflecting a particularly creative period for Dubuffet between February 1981 and January 1982, recognizable by their vibrant color schemes and distinctive line work and figuration. While pieces from this series are typically around 26 by 19  inches, the first 88 made (making up only 18 percent of the entire series) are considerably smaller, measuring 20 by 13.75 inches. The works on view from this series within “Outside the Lines” originate from this smaller grouping, marking an invaluable opportunity to see these rarer paintings.

Jean Dubuffet, Site avec 4 personnages (E6) (1981). Courtesy of Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

Juxtaposed with the three other works hailing from the “Mires” and “Brefs exercices d’école journalière” series, the exhibition provides a concise glimpse into an incredibly productive and inventive period in Dubuffet’s career. Without distraction, the eight works on view illustrate the synthesis of the artist’s continuing experimentation and refinement of his unique visual lexicon to that point. Recalling earlier works and series such as those from “L’Hourloupe,” they are undeniably and wholly distinct, speaking to the Dubuffet’s singular mastery of line, shape, and color.

Jean Dubuffet, Site avec 4 personnages (E60) (1981). Courtesy of Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

“Throughout Jean Dubuffet’s decades’ long artistic career, the artist continued to explore complex imagery in paintings, often influenced by the art of children, the intellectually disabled, prisoners, and outsiders,” said Jonathan Novak. “While many of his earlier works were painted in a dark palette, filled with angst and concern, his late work from the mid 1970’s until the early 1980’s was focused on a different palette – bright primary colors, conveying a sense of happiness and joy. My current exhibition, ‘Outside the Lines: Late paintings of Jean Dubuffet’ reflects Dubuffet’s positive spirit and commitment to creating inspirational works of art during the last ten years of his career.”

“Outside the Lines: Late Paintings of Jean Dubuffet” is on view at Jonathan Novak Contemporary, Los Angeles, through October 18, 2024.