ART-023 — Gilles Rieu — Large-Scale Abstract Expressionist Oil on Canvas, 70" × 37", Michel Roux Provenance

A monumental and commanding original painting by Gilles Rieu (French, born 1953) — a large-scale abstract expressionist oil on canvas mounted to board, featuring layered abstract figurative groupings in red, black, and tan, with handwritten text woven throughout the composition. Silhouetted figures in motion integrate dynamically with layers of script, creating a work that sits at the compelling intersection of Abstract Expressionism and text-based art.

The scale alone — at 70 × 37 inches — makes this a room-defining statement piece. The interplay of gestural figuration, raw color, and handwritten language recalls influences ranging from Cy Twombly to Jean-Michel Basquiat, placing Rieu's work firmly within the most critically engaged traditions of late-20th-century European expressionist painting.

Work Details:

• Artist: Gilles Rieu (French, born 1953)
• Medium: Original oil on canvas mounted to board
• Subject: Abstract figurative groupings with handwritten text
• Work Size: 70" × 37"
• Framed Size: 74.5" × 41.5" × 2.25"
• Signed: Bottom
• Frame: Black frame

Provenance:

Michel Roux (1940–2019) — Absolut Vodka's visionary marketer and the creative force behind the legendary Absolut art campaign. Estate fresh to market.

Condition:

Good overall condition with mild surface wear. Frame exhibits mild to moderate storage wear to edges and corners. Estate fresh to market.

• Source: Hill Auction Gallery, Sunrise, FL
• Auction Date: March 5, 2025
• Lot Number: 13

The Michel Roux provenance places this work within one of the most remarkable private collections of advertising-era art to come to market in recent years — alongside Ruscha, Cenedella, Pacovsky, and Gallardo. A large-format expressionist canvas from this collection carries exceptional contextual significance for any serious collector of late-20th-century painting or spirits/advertising culture art.

Pickup & Shipping: Local pickup preferred given the large scale (74.5" × 41.5"). For buyers requiring shipping, we are happy to provide referrals to specialist fine art shippers. Please contact us prior to purchase to make arrangements.