Early Chuck Close Mural

The current owners purchased the home, designed by NW architect, Robert Reichert, years ago—complete with a kitchen painted by Close when he was at the UW.

“He painted everything, the client recalls. “Including the appliances and the cabinets; in particular some huge cabinet doors.”—four thick panels with white knobs.

Acting on an inspired whim, I asked the family to place the painted doors together on the floor—like puzzle pieces— and wallah! They fit together perfectly in an abstract design, like Close had made an 88” high by 60” wide painting and cut the finished work into sections to decorate the doors. “This is when i realized that we were looking at a complete painting, not a fanciful painting exercise on a kitchen wall.”

“The assembled work reminds me of the color-field paintings of the artist, Morris Lewis in the 50’s.” Gunter says. “i know that Chuck Close was enamored by the Seattle artist, Alden Mason, in his early works, but I have no clue to what really inspired this design.”

Five years ago, when the Antiques Roadshow came to Seattle, a Chuck Close abstract painting, traded to an Everett man for $8.00 was appraised at from $100,000.00 to $150,000.00.

Is this cabinet door assemblage a painting or a kitchen wall decoration?

“That’s not for me to make that determination,” Gunter says. “I have done some research and I know that Close and the architect, Robert Reichert, collaborated on the design and construction of a home that was part of an exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. They built it together. The published real estate listing that the family responded to stated that the house was designed by Robert Reichert with murals by Chuck Close.”

The assembled Chuck Close work is oil on four panels and measures 88” x 60”.

An early example of the work of legendary 20th century artist, Chuck Close, discovered in his former residence.

The current owners purchased the home, designed by NW architect, Robert Reichert, years ago—complete with a kitchen painted by Close when he was at the UW.

“He painted everything, the client recalls. “Including the appliances and the cabinets; in particular some huge cabinet doors.”—four thick panels with white knobs.

Acting on an inspired whim, I asked the family to place the painted doors together on the floor—like puzzle pieces— and wallah! They fit together perfectly in an abstract design, like Close had made an 88” high by 60” wide painting and cut the finished work into sections to decorate the doors. “This is when i realized that we were looking at a complete painting, not a fanciful painting exercise on a kitchen wall.”

“The assembled work reminds me of the color-field paintings of the artist, Morris Lewis in the 50’s.” Gunter says. “i know that Chuck Close was enamored by the Seattle artist, Alden Mason, in his early works, but I have no clue to what really inspired this design.”

Five years ago, when the Antiques Roadshow came to Seattle, a Chuck Close abstract painting, traded to an Everett man for $8.00 was appraised at from $100,000.00 to $150,000.00.

Is this cabinet door assemblage a painting or a kitchen wall decoration?

“That’s not for me to make that determination,” Gunter says. “I have done some research and I know that Close and the architect, Robert Reichert, collaborated on the design and construction of a home that was part of an exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. They built it together. The published real estate listing that the family responded to stated that the house was designed by Robert Reichert with murals by Chuck Close.”

The assembled Chuck Close work is oil on four panels and measures 88” x 60”.