American painter Donald Sultan is celebrated for his powerful, architecturally influenced still lifes—striking compositions in which familiar subjects like flowers are transformed through industrial materials such as metal, graphite, wood, and tar.

Rising to prominence in the late 1970s as a leading figure in the “New Image” movement, Sultan reimagined the traditional still-life genre by breaking down his subjects into bold, essential forms and constructing paintings from the same materials used to build the spaces they occupy. His signature combinations of enamel, roofing tar, aluminum, linoleum, and spackle, along with processes like gouging, sanding, and buffing, create works that feel at once monumental and meticulously refined. The result is a compelling tension: Sultan’s flowers are instantly recognizable, yet their large-scale silhouettes and heavy, abstracted surfaces challenge the expectation of fragility often associated with botanical imagery. 

Showcasing the full range of Sultan’s artistic practice—including his paintings, extensive printmaking, and works on paper—this book presents a vivid survey of his career from the 1970s to today. Featured subjects include poppies, mimosas, tulips, camellias, and lantern flowers, underscoring the evolution of his imagery across decades. New essays explore the artist’s relationship to key influences such as Andy Warhol and Jannis Kounellis, offering fresh insight into the conceptual and material foundations of Sultan’s work. Together, these elements highlight how Sultan continues to push the boundaries of contemporary still life, transforming everyday motifs into powerful, industrially charged icons.

About The Author

Susan Tallman has written extensively on contemporary art, authenticity, the history of prints, and other aspects of art and culture. Edith Devaney is the artist director of Malta International Contemporary Art Space (MICAS).