John Grasso Abstract Art

Titled : Violet Horizons

John Grasso’s Violet Horizons is an expressive abstract oil painting exploring the relationship between colour, texture and movement.

Rich layers of violet, lavender and plum create a vibrant foundation, interwoven with Emerald green, deep blue, soft pink and delicate touches of white. The colours overlap and merge through expressive, heavily textured brushwork, creating a composition that feels both energetic and atmospheric.

Broad, gestural applications of oil paint give the surface considerable depth, while contrasting colours emerge and recede throughout the composition. The result is a constantly shifting visual experience, where the viewer can discover new forms and relationships within the layers of paint.

Rather than representing a recognisable subject, Grasso allows colour and spontaneous mark-making to take centre stage. The painting invites individual interpretation, offering a contemporary abstract work with strong colour presence and tactile character.

An original work by Cairns artist John Grasso, reflecting his exploration of expressive colour, layered oil applications and contemporary abstract expressionism.

Artwork details

• Artist: John Grasso

• Title: Violet Horizons

• Year: 2026

• Medium: Oil on canvas

• Canvas: 12 oz

• Dimensions: 80 × 50 cm

• Signature: Signed JG, lower left

• Certificate: Certificate of Authenticity issued by Australia.Gallery

• Original, one-of-a-kind artwork.

  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.