John Altoon was an American abstract painter, best known for his figurative drawings of the 1960s and as a leading figure in the Los Angeles art scene during the 1950s and 1960s. He was influenced by the Abstract Expressionism Movement and his use of colour, energetic abstract expressionism and gestural brushstrokes resembled the works of noted Dutch-American abstract expressionist artist Willem de Kooning. Altoon was also a prominent member of the Ferus group that operated in LA and included artists like Edward Kienholz, Robert Irwin and Larry Bell. Altoon’s works have been held at several exhibitions including at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. One of his notable works includes the Ocean Park series. Altoon also gained notoriety for his zestful, exuberant and aggressive personality, his reckless life style, and for his bouts of depression and paranoia that at times became destructive and violent. He suffered from schizophrenia and had a tragic early death from a heart attack. The robust and charming personality of Altoon, who remained highly popular in all his circles, his struggle with mental illness and his untimely death perhaps, left a far greater legacy than his art itself.
