The Value of Ernest Trova Artworks (Artist Price Guide)

Trova was born just outside St. Louis, Missouri, where he lived his entire life. After graduating from high school, he worked as a window dresser at the Famous-Barr department store while pursuing his craft in painting. His painting Roman Boy won first prize in the 1947 Missouri Exhibition, selected by a jury including Max Beckmann.

During this time, Trova’s paintings used a gestural style of assemblage, focusing on various subjects in sometimes cartoonish forms. As he incorporated more carefully ruled and stenciled figures into his work, the paintings themselves took on a cooler, more hard-edged style.

In the 1960s, Trova developed his series of Falling Man paintings and sculptures, which attracted significant interest among galleries in New York, Boston, and elsewhere. His work was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

While the Falling Man series led to Trova’s invitation to exhibit in Whitney Annuals and Vennice Bienniales, Trova continued developing his unique craft and vision, shifting by the 1970s to a new series of large-scale outdoor and steel sculptures that incorporated geometric shapes with figures and silhouettes. In 1976, Trova donated forty of his works to help inaugurate the Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis County.

Trova’s work continued to display in museums and galleries around the world. He worked continuously until his death in 2009, with his later solo exhibitions including series of Table Figures, Bronze Poets, and troubadours.

Appraise and Sell Ernest Trova’s work

Trova’s work has had a steady market. Sculptures from his Falling Man series are most popular, though his paintings can also sell for several thousands of dollars. If you have any works by Ernest Trova, get in touch with our experts at Revere Auctions. If you would like to sell your Trova paintings or sculptures, you can auction them at our location in St. Paul, Minnesota. We also offer our services online.

You can contact us anytime for a free auction estimate if you want to sell Trova’s work. We have a very simple process. After you send us the photos of the work, our experts will take a look, analyze, and provide you an estimate of the amount the artwork is likely to reach at auction.

If you need an appraisal for Trova’s work, we provide a certified appraisal report that can be used for estate taxes, donations, and insurance coverage. Our appraisals are compliant with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and are accepted by insurance companies, charity agencies, and the IRS.