Renowned as Captain Beefheart, Don Van Vliet was an American musician, sculptor, and painter. Hailing from Glendale, CA, he was considered a prodigy in sculpture by his instructors, yet his parents discouraged him from pursuing art. In his youth, he met Frank Zappa, a gifted peer who nurtured his musical abilities. As the leader of the band Captain Beefheart, Van Vliet released a string of albums, most notably the groundbreaking Trout Mask Replica (1969). However, his passion for visual art led him to eventually leave music in the late 70s and focus on creating bold paintings that have been likened to Expressionism, Primitivism, and outsider art. His career was launched when Julian Schnabel acquired one of his pieces, and Mary Boone hosted his debut solo exhibition at her renowned New York gallery. Van Vliet’s works have been favorably compared to those of influential artists such as Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, and Jackson Pollock. Notable solo exhibitions at prestigious galleries, including Anton Kern and Michael Werner in New York, have solidified his place in the art world. Sadly, Van Vliet passed away on December 17, 2010 in Arcata, CA, as a result of complications from multiple sclerosis.
www.ftn-books.com has some rare van Vliet items available.
