Biala: Five Drawings

Even at the height of her most gestural abstractions, Biala (1903-2000) held tight to traditional subject matter that inspired her—still lifes, interiors, landscapes, and portraiture. These subjects, rooted in old Europe, remained true for Biala throughout her career. 

Recently a portfolio of drawings was catalogued by the estate. Made available here for the first time in this online gallery, this curated selection features five large drawings by Biala depicting the interiors of her home at 8 rue Bertrand in Paris, France.

Her tiny home, located in the seventh arrondissement, was actually a converted stable reachable through a courtyard. “This wonderful, magical, strange little house just reeked of all of her history and genuineness,” recalled the art advisor and close friend Nancy Rosen in a 2006 article for Vogue.

“Every inch of the house, from a pot of flowers on the table to the dishes in a breakfront, found its way into the intimate and lyric works Biala painted there.”

— Jean Nathan, Vogue, 2006

These drawings, dating from 1965 to 1983, capture scenes within scenes, sometimes even combining two entirely different architectural points of view—a few even illustrate her own paintings in situ. They offer reference and perspective into Biala’s colorful and complex world—one that captures the sublime assimilation of the School of Paris and the New York School of abstract expressionism.

— Jason Andrew