معرفی
Carl Ostendarp is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), Cornell University, where he has taught for over two decades. His work spans painting, drawing, and installation, with a focus on pictorial abstraction and visual language. He has exhibited nationally and internationally in over 40 solo and 170 group exhibitions.
His education includes a B.F.A. from Boston University (1983) and an M.F.A. from Yale University School of Art (1996). He has previously taught at NYU, Tyler School of Art, Rutgers, SVA, and The Cooper Union before joining Cornell.
Ostendarp’s research centers on abstract painting, drawing, and installation art, often exploring formal structures, color theory, and the materiality of paint. His recent works engage with scale, gesture, and linguistic elements, blurring boundaries between sound, text, and visual form. His practice reflects a deep engagement with modernist traditions while embracing contemporary strategies of abstraction.
The recent artworks highlight a consistent exploration of abstraction through acrylic, casein, and gouache on canvas and paper. Themes include expressive typography, phonetic abstraction, spatial dynamics, and material experimentation. His works often reference pop culture, historical figures, and linguistic play, situating him within a broader discourse of postmodern and contemporary American painting.
- Mindy Watts Prize for Faculty Excellence (2014, 2010)
- Cornell Council for the Arts (2012)
- AAP Faculty Development Fund (2017–2020)
Ostendarp has mentored students through thesis supervision and graduate seminars, including ART 4001/4002 (Thesis I & II) and ART 6101/6102 (Graduate Seminars on professional skills and grants). His grants support artistic research and development, often tied to exhibitions and creative production. He maintains an active studio practice while contributing to academic discourse in visual arts education.
He has collaborated with fellow artist Gail Fitzgerald on installations such as Plasti-Kool and Relativity Suite, and exhibited jointly in multiple two-person shows. His works are held in major public collections including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Museum Ludwig in Germany.
