John Grasso Art. Abstract Series

John Grasso (b. 1970)

Portal of Light, 2026

Oil on canvas
80 × 50 cm
12 oz canvas
Signed lower left “JG”
Original artwork

Accompanied by Certificate of Authenticity

Portal of Light is a richly layered abstract oil painting by Australian artist John Grasso, born in Mareeba, Queensland, in 1970.

The composition draws the viewer into a succession of painted thresholds. Turquoise, teal and deep blue form the outer framework, giving way to vibrant passages of yellow, orange, violet, mauve and charcoal. At the centre, an intense vertical field of purple, magenta and blue creates a luminous focal point that appears to recede into the painting.

Grasso’s expressive application  of oil paint is central to the work. Broad strokes are interwoven with scraped, dragged and finely worked marks, leaving traces of the painting’s development visible across the surface. Layers of colour overlap and break through one another, creating a tactile, energetic surface with considerable visual depth.

The repeated rectangular structure suggests an architectural passage or portal, while remaining firmly abstract. The viewer’s eye is encouraged to travel from the darker, turbulent perimeter toward the vibrant central field, creating an experience of movement, transition and discovery.

The work demonstrates Grasso’s characteristic engagement with colour, texture, gesture and spatial illusion, combining an underlying sense of structure with the spontaneity of direct, expressive painting.

Artist

John Grasso (b. 1970, Mareeba, Queensland) is a self-taught Australian artist of Sicilian heritage, based in Cairns, Far North Queensland. His practice encompasses vibrant abstract and figurative painting, reflecting an ongoing exploration of colour, movement, culture and the expressive possibilities of oil paint.

Artist Statement

John Grasso 

My paintings are an exploration of colour, movement and the physical act of painting. I am interested in what happens when layers of paint, marks and colour interact rather than being completely controlled.

I work intuitively, allowing the painting to develop through repeated application, scraping, drawing and repainting. Colour is central to the process. Strong contrastscan create energy, while darker passages provide depth and allow brighter colours to emerge.

My surroundings in Far North Queensland, my interest in Japanese culture and my experience with martial arts have all contributed to the way I approach painting. I am interested in balance, discipline and movement, but also in the freedom that comes from allowing a painting to evolve.

I want the viewer to encounter the work directly—to move through its colours, textures and marks and form their own response.

My practice draws upon Japanese culture, Monet, Van Gogh, Joan Mitchell and Indigenous art, as well as martial arts and Samurai ethics.