
William Baziotes (American, 1912–1963). White Bird, 1957. Oil on canvas, 60 x 48 inches (152.4 x 121.9 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Gift of Seymour H. Knox, Jr., 1957 (K1957:13). © Estate of William Baziotes.
© Estate of William Baziotes
Image downloads are for educational use only. For all other purposes, please see our Obtaining and Using Images page.

© Estate of William Baziotes
Image downloads are for educational use only. For all other purposes, please see our Obtaining and Using Images page.

© Estate of William Baziotes
Image downloads are for educational use only. For all other purposes, please see our Obtaining and Using Images page.



William Baziotes
American, 1912-1963
White Bird, 1957
oil on canvas
support: 60 x 48 inches (152.4 x 121.92 cm); framed: 62 1/2 x 50 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches (158.75 x 128.27 x 6.99 cm)
Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York
Gift of Seymour H. Knox, Jr., 1957
K1957:13
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Information may change due to ongoing research.Glossary of Terms
William Baziotes was strongly influenced by Surrealist imagery, which sought to channel the unconscious as a means to unlock the power of the mind. This inspired him to develop a visual vocabulary of strange, biomorphic imaginings. Although White Bird does not depict a specific species of fowl, the large white form that dominates the center of the canvas and surrounding linear elements convey a feeling of weightlessness. The artist was also fascinated with the power of myth, stating, “The things in my paintings are intended to strike something that is an emotional involvement—that has to do with the human personality and all the mysteries of life, not simply colors or abstract balances.”
Label from Menagerie: Animals on View, March 11–June 4, 2017
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