As you know, with my passion for figures I am delving into some exploratory figurative work, both in pastels and acrylics. One of my inspirations is Jylian Gustlin who I mentioned in an earlier blog. Reading a bit about her, I discovered that she in turn was inspired by the Bay Area Figurative Artists. I hadn’t heard of them so naturally I had to search out who these artists were. One of the names I came across was Nathan Oliveira (9 Dec 1928-13 Nov 2010). I’ve been looking forward to sharing his work with you!
Born of Portuguese immigrant parents, he was brought up in San Francisco. He struggled at school but it was apparently seeing a Rembrandt portrait during his high school years that set him on the artistic road to becoming an internationally known artist with a teaching post at Stanford University.
Nathan Oliveira is known for his ‘Windhover ‘ series of later paintings (seen here in a 2005 video) which were inspired by the grace and beauty of the kestral. He’s also known for his printmaking and some sculpture but for this blog, I want to focus on some of his figurative work.
Studying with Max Beckmann at Mills College in the summer of 1950 (Beckmann died only a few months later), he was permitted, encouraged, to paint figuratively in a time when abstract expressionism was all the rage in America (for example Jackson Pollack was at the height of his fame in the early 1950s)!
I am taken with Oliveira’s monumental single figures and the process of his paintings – you can see the paint on the canvas, there’s no denying it. Although the work is figurative, you can see the importance of paint and its application, the layering, the dripping, the brush stroke. These works are LARGE (I have included a photo of Oliveira in his studio to get a sense of the scale). And of course, you know me, I loooove his colours!!
Okay, let’s take a look at his work: they are in chronological order.


Figures must have their own light, it wasn’t light that struck the figure in a certain way – the light itself, the luminosity was in the figure. It emanated from the paint itself.
~ Nathan Oliveira










I do not look at modern art as a linear experience, continually in competition with itself, devouring itself – a game for popular society to play. I rather believe in an art that layers time upon time, an art that simply reaffirms our presence and the depth of our existence on this earth, our planet in the universe. In this respect I see my art as simply a current link in a chain to those who have preceded me. In a way I want to touch the artists who early on started the civilized journey of mankind. I simply want to be a part of a continuous resonance.
~ Nathan Oliveira
In 2003 Nathan Oliveira told writer Diane Rogers: “…whenever I go to New York, I go to the Frick and stand in front of the Rembrandt self-portrait there and see a human, living presence and an energy that touches me. It’s that presence that keeps me painting.” It seems this energy, this life force emanates from Oliveira’s paintings also. I look forward to the day I actually see one in the ‘real’!
Here’s a bit more information on the artist from an article following his death at 81 years old. It shows a beautiful painting done in 2010, the year he died.
And if I’ve piqued your interest, here’s a wonderful book on the artist – I took all my images from it. Just click on the book and it will take you to Amazon.ca:
I’d love to hear your responses to this artist. I am fascinated by his work and can see how it will affect my own. It certainly gives me permission to take further risks!!
Thanks for joining me on this journey.
Until next time,
~ Gail
7 thoughts on “Nathan Oliveira – figurative painter extraordinaire!”
Dear gail – I was as moved by Oliviera’s work as you were – i was planning to do a review of him on my site and then I cm across yours!!! May I use soe of the images on your blog for my brief Facebook intro? I know he will effect my work too – greatly! So nice to meet such a like-minded individual -thanks for this article. Robyn
So glad you came across my blog Robyn. And yes, of course you may use the images from my blog, hoping you’ll link back to my blog/website of course. (Thanks for asking.) His work is such an inspiration!
I have just come across another video of an interview with Oliveira. Here it is: http://blip.tv/michael-killen-on-creativity/how-artist-nathan-oliveira-thinks-2991823
Wow, what wonderful work. So simple yet so powerful and so beautiful.
I’m glad you like it. I have been very inspired recently by his work!
Was very interested by your informative blog. As an artist who studies palettes I wondered if you knew what pigment was used in Oliveira’s red-orange paint.
Thanks
Hi Greg, Thanks for your question. I’m sorry, I don’t know the answer. But I’m curious and will try to find out!