Born in 1951 in Asheville, North Carolina, Donald Sultan received his BFA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and his MFA from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. He moved to New York in 1975. The work of Donald Sultan is voluminous and varied. Since his first one-man show in 1977, he has enjoyed a distinguished career as painter, printmaker, and sculptor. His extensive body of work has placed him at the forefront of contemporary art, where he has become best known for his ability to successfully merge the best of yesterday's artistic tradition with a fresh approach.

Although his paintings fit into the criteria of a still life, Sultan describes these works as first and foremost abstract. The largeness of Sultan's compositions, huge pieces of fruit, flowers, dominoes and other objects, set against the stark, unsettling tar-black, eight-foot square background, dominate the viewer. He is best known for his lemons, flowers and fruit, and states that his subjects develop from previous work. For example: the oval of his lemons has led to a series of oval-blossomed tulips, dots from dice have become oranges. What does not change with Sultan's work is the powerful statement his forms make. Sultan's work incorporates basic geometric and organic forms with a formal purity that is both subtle and monumental. His images are weighty, with equal emphasis on both negative and positive areas. Sultan describes his work as "heavy structure, holding fragile meaning" with the ability to "turn you off and turn you on at the same time." Sultan's still lifes have been described as studies in contrast. His powerfully sensual, fleshy object representations are rendered through a labor-intensive and unique method.

Sultan has been given numerous exhibitions dedicated to his work, as well as having been included in a number of group shows. Sultan has received two honorary doctorate degrees from The Corcoran School of Art in Washington D.C. and the New York Academy of Art. His work is included in the permanent collection of many prestigious institutions including: The Museum of Modern Art in New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, Tate Gallery in London, Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.  

Solo Exhibitions
 
2004
Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki, Finland  

2003 Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki, Finland 

2000                 
"Donald Sultan - Selected Drawings 1976 – 1998," Hill Gallery. Birmingham, Michigan, Nov. 12 - Jan. 31, 2000. 

"Donald Sultan: In the Still-Life Tradition," Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Memphis, Tennessee, Jan. 23 - April 9, 2000. Traveled To: Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. May 6 - July 17, 2000; Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri Sept. 16 - Dec. 3, 2000; Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, Florida March 31 - June 3, 2001; Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, Arizona June 29 - Sept 9, 2001; Winston Wachter Fine Art, Seattle, WA, New Works Feb. 17 - April 1, 2002; Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, Louisiana. 
 
"Temporary Contemporary - Selected Works by Donald Sultan," Cheekwood Museum of Art. Nashville, Tennessee, Dec. 4 - Jan. 30, 2000. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Meredith Long Gallery. Houston, Texas, May 4 - May 25, 2000. "Donald Sultan: Recent Prints and Drawings," Mary Ryan Gallery. New York, New York, May 24 - July 14, 2000.  

1999                 
"Bar Mitzvah," The Jewish Museum. New York, New York, Feb. 15 - May 1999. (Book collaboration with playwright David Mamet). 
 
"Donald Sultan Recent Works," Meredith Long & Co.. Houston, Texas, Feb. 18 - March 10, 1999. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Recent Painting," Knoedler. New York, New York, March 4 - 27, 1999. 
 
"Donald Sultan Selected Drawings 1976-1998," Hill Gallery. Birmingham, Michigan, Nov. 12 - Dec. 31, 1999.  

1998                 
"Donald Sultan," Galerie Lutz Thalmann. Zurich, Switzerland. Jan. 6 - Feb. 25, 1998. "Donald Sultan," Baldwin Gallery. Aspen, Colorado, February 13 - March 10, 1998. "Donald Sultan, New Paintings and Drawings," Turner & Runyon Gallery. Dallas, Texas, May 28 - July 2, 1998. 
 
"Donald Sultan, Recent Work," Galleria Lawrence Rubin. Milano, Italy. Sept. 24 - Oct. 18, 1998. 

1997                 
"Donald Sultan: Paintings and Drawings," Knoedler & Co.. New York, New York, April 9 - May 3, 1997. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Flowers," Greenberg Van Doren Gallery. St. Louis, Missouri, May 2 - June 30, 1997. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Painting, Drawing, Photography," Hill Gallery. Birmingham, Michigan, Sept. 6 - Oct .11, 1997. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Galerie Daniel Templon. Paris, France. Sept. 6 - Oct. 15, 1997. "Donald Sultan: Smoke Rings," Janet Borden, Inc.. New York, New York, Sept. 11 - Oct. 4, 1997. 

1996                 
"Donald Sultan: Paintings & Works on Paper," Baldwin Gallery. Aspen, Colorado, February 16 - March 13, 1996. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Meredith Long & Company. Houston, Texas, March 7 - 26, 1996. "Donald Sultan: Recent Works on Paper," Fotouhi Cramer Gallery. East Hampton, New York, Aug. 10- Sept. 7, 1996. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Neue Arbeiten," Galerie Lawrence Rubin. Zurich, Switzerland. Sept. 6 - Oct. 5, 1996.
 
"Donald Sultan: Recent Prints," Mary Ryan Gallery. New York, New York, Oct. 2 - Nov. 16, 1996. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Paul Kasmin Gallery. New York, New York, Oct. 30 - Dec. 7, 1996. "Donald Sultan," Guild Hall, exhibition in conjunction with the Hampton's International Film Festival. East Hampton, New York, Oct. 16 - Oct. 2, 1996. 

1995                 
"Donald Sultan: New Paintings," Knoedler & Company. New York, New York, March 8 - April 1, 1995. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Hill Gallery. Birmingham, Michigan, October 12 - November 15, 1995. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Paintings and Drawings," Asheville Art Museum. North Carolina, November 9 - December 30, 1995. 

1994                 
"Donald Sultan," Galeria 56. Budapest, Hungary. October 20 - December 17, 1994. "Donald Sultan: Wall Flowers," Paul Kasmin Gallery, in association with Knoedler & Company. New York, New York, December 15, 1994 - January 28, 1995. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Recent Paintings," Jaffe Baker Blau. Boca Raton, Florida, March 3 - 24, 1994. 

1993                 
"Donald Sultan," Galerie Kaj Forsblom. zzz, Switzerland. May 13 - June 26, 1993. "Donald Sultan: Morning Glories," Hill Gallery. Birmingham, Michigan, July 27 - August 21, 1993. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Recent Paintings," Knoedler & Company. New York, New York, October 9 - November 4, 1993. 

1992-95
Walker, Barry, curator. "Donald Sultan: A Print Retrospective," The American Federation of the Arts (organizing and circulating institution). New York, New York. Traveled to: Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, September 17- November 8, 1992; Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio, December 13- January 31, 1993; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, June 26- August 22, 1993; Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, January 30 - April 9, 1994; Madison Art Center, Wisconsin, May 28- July 24, 1994; Orlando Museum of Art, Florida, August 20 - October 15, 1994; Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Tennessee, November 12 -January 7, 1995. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Drawing," The Hill Gallery. Birmingham, Michigan, January 25 - February 25, 1992. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Paintings," Knoedler & Company. New York, New York, March 21 - April 25, 1992. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Pintures," Galeria Trauma. Barcelona, Spain. April 2 - May 4, 1992. "Donald Sultan," Hans Strelow Gallery. Duesseldorf, Germany. May 7 - June 20, 1992. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Recent Paintings and Works on Paper," Meredith Long & Company. Houston, Texas, May 28 - July 3, 1992. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Paintings 1978-1992," Guild Hall Museum. East Hampton, New York, August 15 - October 4, 1992. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Drawings + Watercolors 1987-1992," Knoedler & Company. New York, New York, September 12 - October 1992. 

1991                 
"Donald Sultan: Paintings, Drawings and Prints," John Berggruen Gallery. San Francisco, California, January 8 - February 9, 1991. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Sculpture," Knoedler & Company. New York, New York, January 12 - February 9, 1991. 
 
"Donald Sultan, Recent Print Projects: Dominoes, Fruits and Flowers, Playing Cards," Mary Ryan Gallery. New York, New York, January 10 - February 13, 1991. "Donald Sultan: Drawing - Painting," Meredith Long Gallery. Houston, Texas, March 1 - April 6, 1991. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Dominoes, Playing Cards, Fruits and Flowers," Greg Kucera Gallery. Seattle, Washington, April 4 - 28, 1991<. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Dominoes, Playing Cards, Fruits and Flowers," Greg Kucera Gallery. Seattle, Washington, April 4 - 28, 1991. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Richard Green Gallery. Santa Monica, California, September 13 - October 12, 1991. 

1990                 
"Donald Sultan: Painting," Knoedler & Company. New York, New York, April 28 - May 4, 1990. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Screenprints and Etchings," Greg Kucera Gallery. Seattle, Washington, June 7-July 1, 1990. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Equinox Gallery. Vancouver, Canada. October 11 - November 3, 1990. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Waddington Galleries. London, United Kingdom. November 28 - December 21, 1990. 

1989                 
"Donald Sultan: Sculpture," Blum Helman Gallery. Santa Monica, California, March 20 -April 29, 1989. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Playing Cards Drawings," Paul Kasmin Gallery Inc.. New York, New York, April 27 - June 4, 1989. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Works on Paper," Runkle-Hue-Williams, Ltd.. London, United Kingdom. May 4 - June 16, 1989. 
 
"Donald Sultan: New Sculpture," The Greenberg Gallery. St.Louis, Missouri, Sept 8 - Nov 4, 1989. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Drawings," Knoedler & Co.. New York, New York, Sept 12 - Oct 5, 1989. 
 
"Donald Sultan: A Selection of Prints," Richard Green Gallery. New York, New York, November 18 - December 23, 1989. 

1988                 
"Donald Sultan's Black Lemons," Museum of Modern Art. New York, New York, February 4 - May 3, 1988. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Galerie Montenay. Paris, France. October 6 - 29, 1988. 
 
"Donald Sultan," La Galerie Alice Pauli. Lausanne, Switzerland. October 7 - November 5, 1988. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Prints and Drawings ," Marina Hamilton Gallery. New York, New York. 

1987                
"Donald Sultan: Recent Painting," Blum Helman Gallery. New York, New York, November 4 - 28, 1987. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Small Paintings, Small Drawings 1978-87," Barbara Krakow Gallery. Boston, Massachusetts, November 7 - December 2, 1987. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Museum of Contemporary Art. Chicago, Illinois, November 14, 1987 - January 10, 1988. traveled to: Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, CA; Fort Worth Art Museum Texas; and the Brooklyn Museum, New York. "Donald Sultan," Gian Enzo Sperone Gallery. Rome, Italy. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Black Lemons - Recent Prints," Greg Kucera Gallery. Seattle, Washington. 
 
"Part of the "Centric Series" (print exhibition)," University Art Museum, Cal State. Long Beach, California. 

1986                 
"Donald Sultan, Small Paintings," Blum Helman Gallery. New York, New York, November 29, 1985 - January 4, 1986.
 
"Donald Sultan: Drawings," Blum Helman Gallery. New York, New York, April 5 - 26, 1986.
 
"Donald Sultan: A Survey," A.P. Giannini Gallery, Bank of America, World Headquarters. San Francisco, California, May 1 - June 24, 1986. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Galerie Montenay-Delsol. Paris, France. October 16 - November 8, 1986. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Drawings," Blum Helman Gallery. Los Angeles, California, December 4, 1986 

1985                 
"Donald Sultan: New Paintings," Blum Helman Gallery. New York, New York, April 3 - 27, 1985. 
 
"Donald Sultan: Drawings and Paintings," The Greenberg Gallery. St. Louis, Missouri, November 8, 1985 - January 3, 1987. 
 
"Donald Sultan: gravures monumentales," Galerie de L'estampe Contemporaine Bibliotheque Nationale, rostonde Colbert. Paris, France. October 21 - November 22, 1985. 

1984                
"Donald Sultan: New Paintings," Blum Helman Gallery. New York, New York, February 8 - March 3, 1984. 

1982                 
"Donald Sultan," Blum Helman Gallery. New York, New York, April 14 - May 8, 1982. "Donald Sultan: Bilder und Zeichnungen," Hans Strelow Gallery. Duesseldorf, Germany. October 14 - November 13, 1982. 

1981                 
"Donald Sultan: Recent Paintings," Daniel Weinberg Gallery. San Francisco, California, February 4 - 28, 1981. 

1980
willard gallery, new york city 

1979                
"Donald Sultan," Willard Gallery. New York, New York, February 24 - March 22, 1979. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Young Hoffman Gallery. Chicago, Illinois, November 9 - December 12, 1979. 
 
"Donald Sultan," Willard Gallery. New York, New York, October 4 - 30, 1980. 

1977 
"Donald Sultan," Artist's Space. New York, New York, February 5 - 27, 1977. 
 
"Turning the Room Sideways," The Institute of the Art and Urban Resources, P.S. 1 Special Projects Room. Long Island City, New York, October 20 - November 27.

 
Collections
 
albright-knox art gallery, buffalo
the art institute of chicago, illinois
hirschhorn museum and sculpture garden, washington
the metropolitan museum of art, new york city
modern art museum of Fort Worth, Texas
san francisco museum of modern art, california
the whitney museum of american art, new york city
walker art center, minneapolis
the solomon r. guggenheim museum, new york city
the saint louis art museum, missouri
nelson-atkins museum, kansas city
the museum of fine arts, boston
the museum of modern art, new york city
the australian national gallery, canberra