The Surprised Nymph

About The Surprised Nymph

This abstract expressionist painting is by Carol Sutton.

At the age of only twenty-two years, a portfolio of sixteen serigraphs by Carol Sutton became part of a collection at the Smithsonian Museum of American Art. In the 1970s, Sutton was considered one of the finest abstract painters in Canada. In this lyrical composition, passages of intense colours— blues, lilac, golden yellow, forest green and blush tones swirl around the canvas. The rich melange of colours is grounded by earthy hues that offer dramatic contrast.

“Whenever I look at a painting by Carol Sutton, I always find myself re-asking that old question, 'What is abstract painting?" That question is right up there with questions like "What is God?" That's how I know I'm looking at a good painting.” Donna Lypchuk, Art Critic

Carol Lorraine Sutton was born in Norfolk, Virginia (1945-2025). In 1969, she obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Carolina and moved to Toronto, Ontario. She began exhibiting her work in 1966 and, early in her career, was noticed by the famed NYC Art Critic Clement Greenberg, who visited her Toronto studio often. A prolific artist, she held more than 32 solo exhibitions during her career and 94 group shows.
Her work is held in collections—both public (notably The Smithsonian Museum of American Art, The Museum of Fine Arts Boston and The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art and privately in the US and Canada.