An iconic example of Abstract Expressionist painting, “Space Odyssey” is a monumental oil on canvas by celebrated American artist John Little (1907–1984), signed and dated 1970. This expressive work reflects Little’s shift from linear Surrealist influences to bold, gestural brushwork and dense impasto technique, embodying the dynamic energy of the New York School. The painting is presented in its original gilt-wood artist frame, which complements the dramatic palette and movement of the piece.

Little's work is known for allowing form and color to dominate over line, as seen in this powerful, large-scale composition. Measuring over 7 feet in height, “Space Odyssey” stands as a commanding example of post-war American art and a museum-worthy acquisition for serious collectors of mid-20th century abstract art.

Little, who attended the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy and worked under George Grosz at the Art Students League, began to seriously paint abstraction after studying with Hans Hofmann, through whom he also became a close friend of Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock. While Little’s early style had a linear quality inspired by Surrealist automatism, his later works featured thick impasto and gestural brushstrokes. He explained: “I was trying to get away from the drawing, letting form and color carry the idea rather than the line.”