Donald Sultan

Donald Sultan (born 1951) is an American contemporary artist known for his large-scale, industrial-inspired still lifes and abstract compositions. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, he studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Sultan gained recognition for his use of unconventional materials such as tar, spackle, and linoleum in his paintings. His work has been exhibited in major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Internationally, his art has been showcased at the Tate Gallery in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. His “Disaster” series and floral still lifes highlight the contrast between beauty and industrial decay. Sultan remains an influential figure in contemporary painting and printmaking. As of 2025, he continues to create and exhibit his work worldwide.