Christopher Wool – Portraits (b/w)

Portraits (b/w), 2014

• Artist: Christopher Wool (American, born 1955)
• Medium: Complete set of six lithographs on Rives BFK paper
• Dimensions (each sheet): 686 × 571 mm (27 × 22 1/2 in)
• Dimensions (each image): 482 × 368 mm (19 × 14 1/2 in)
• Edition: 28 (plus seven artist's proof sets)
• Signature: Each signed and dated in pencil by the artist
• Publisher: Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE), West Islip, New York (blindstamp present on each)
• Provenance: Original paper folder with justification printed on the inner flap
• Framed: Yes

Portraits (b/w) is the complete set of six lithographs on Rives BFK paper, executed in 2014 and published by Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE), West Islip, New York. This set is  from the edition of 28 — one of only 28 numbered sets, plus seven artist's proof sets — each impression signed and dated in pencil by the artist and bearing the blindstamp of ULAE. The set is accompanied by the original paper folder with justification printed on the inner flap, preserved with full margins and presented framed, in very good condition.

The work exemplifies the spare, conceptually rigorous, and visually arresting language of Christopher Wool, one of the most influential and critically acclaimed American artists of his generation. Emerging in the New York art scene of the 1980s, Wool built his reputation on a practice that interrogates the boundaries between text and image, abstraction and representation, high art and vernacular culture. His celebrated word paintings — large-scale enamel texts on aluminum — established him as a defining voice of postwar American art, while his ongoing exploration of printmaking has produced some of the most sophisticated and sought-after works in the contemporary print market.

In Portraits (b/w), Wool turns to the lithograph medium with characteristic restraint and formal precision. The black and white palette strips the compositions to their graphic essentials, amplifying the tension between mark, ground, and meaning that runs throughout his practice. The serial format of the complete set of six further underlines the conceptual coherence of the work — each impression both autonomous and part of a larger visual and intellectual argument.

Published by Universal Limited Art Editions — one of the most historically significant and prestigious print workshops in the world, whose roster includes Johns, Rauschenberg, Hesse, and Motherwell — this set carries an impeccable institutional and production pedigree. Works published by ULAE are held in the permanent collections of MoMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and major institutions worldwide.

Preserved with full margins, accompanied by the original folder, and presented framed, the set is in very good condition.

Shipping & Delivery: 

✔ Worldwide shipping from France

✔ Professional packaging with insurance

✔ Tracking number included for secure delivery

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FAQ

Is this an original work by Christopher Wool? Yes. Portraits (b/w) is an authentic complete set of six limited edition lithographs, each hand-signed and dated in pencil by Christopher Wool.

What printing technique was used? Each work in the set is a lithograph on Rives BFK paper — one of the most prestigious and widely used printmaking papers in the world, prized for its archival stability, surface quality, and ability to render fine tonal gradations.

Is the artwork hand-signed? Yes — each of the six impressions is individually signed and dated in pencil by the artist.

What is the edition size? The complete set was produced in a strictly limited edition of 28, plus seven artist's proof sets — making each numbered set an exceptionally rare and desirable collectible.

Who published this work? The set was published by Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE), West Islip, New York — one of the most prestigious and historically significant print workshops in the world. The ULAE blindstamp is present on each impression.

Does the set come with its original folder? Yes. This set is accompanied by the original paper folder with justification printed on the inner flap — an important element of provenance and presentation that enhances both the collectible and documentary value of the work.

What are the dimensions of each piece? Each sheet: 686 × 571 mm (27 × 22 1/2 in) Each image: 482 × 368 mm (19 × 14 1/2 in)

Is the artwork framed? Yes. Each of the six lithographs is presented framed, ready for display.

What is the condition of the work? Very good condition. Full margins preserved on each impression. Not examined outside of frame. Full condition report available upon request.