In late 2008, Tim Wirth began organizing his studio practice around building square paintings that function as three-dimensional objects.  Although they have an intended front display and are framed to hang on a wall, the backsides also feature a painted image consisting of date, location, title, and signature.  Wirth's unique craftsmanship and his democratic approach to pricing and selling his work has attracted collectors and investors from across the United States as well as the UK.

The idea was to find a way to explore any visual terrain I wanted without getting lost.  For the most part I painted on squares anyway, so it wasn't hard to limit myself to that format.  A square is a fundamental shape- it’s got an inherent truth and logic about it.  The formalist in me gravitates to it, requires it even... Many of the images and language in the work arrives through improvisation.  Occasionally it's premeditated.  Sometimes it's graceful and sometimes it's clumsy, but every individual painting belongs to that larger context - that family of squares.  And each painting, regardless of whether it’s a hit or a miss, contributes to the whole and are interesting in their own way.   I like that, both in painting and elsewhere...  For these reasons it also made sense to make them attainable and price them all the same.  I like the idea of someone being able to own more than one, or collecting them not as paintings to hang but as objects to store in an attic or basement.  Something to dust off and look at every few years when it's in the way. They are, first and foremost, objects.  Not unlike baseball cards or muscle cars, but much better.  And more fun and satisfying to own than savings bonds or gold coins.

Each painting is constructed from premium pine, birch panel, and are framed with 1/4" white pine that's sanded down to a smooth finish.  The standard square size is 25"x 25"x 2".  Current 2011 pricing is $595 ea.  Below are descriptions about how the squares have evolved as well as display pictures compiled from collectors:

 
If you own a painting or print we'd love to see it in display and hear where you got it.  Send to: timwirth@timwirth.com

Skippy Peanut Butter, 2009 (front display)

Skippy Peanut Butter, 2009 (backside)
There are roughly 60-70 squares dated 2009 or earlier.  The backside images are often colorful with overlapping layers.  Their stated locations vary.  Squares dated in 2007 and 2008 were created in one of three locations; Savannah, Georgia; Des Moines, Iowa; or Buffalo Center, Iowa.  Many of the early squares have not been documented, and serve as early representations of the studio methods Wirth would later commit greater focus to.  All 2009 squares were made in Buffalo Center, Iowa.  The majority of these works sold between $295-395 ea.

Invisible Man, 2010 (front display)

Invisible Man, 2010 (backside)
There are roughly 30-40 squares dated 2010.  A stronger sense of organization and consistency is evident on the backsides of the 2010 squares with the signature, location, and year often written in firm text on the top and bottom supports. Pricing increased in 2010 with the majority having sold between $395-595.
Below are a few display photos from various private and public collections: