Goessl’s beginnings are marked by an abstract, atmospheric style that diverged from the then-dominant trend of Informel. In this, his work aligns with the international context of Colour Field Painting—from Rothko to Louis—as well as with minimalist, monochromatic concepts of painting as seen in the works of Klein, Fontana, and Graubner.

By the 1980s, Goessl shifted toward a material-oriented, earthy style of painting, which nonetheless continued to evoke light and a sense of atmospheric pulsation. His metaphysical color spaces breathe pure painting.

Goessl’s visual inventions follow no fixed formula; each work is a singular creation: expansive color fields, as well as concentrated color centers in the form of heads, masks, or crowns. Yet painting always remains at the core of his artistic practice.

Opening and Book Presentation
November 8, 2011