New Abstract Galleries Host Vibrant Bursts of Color
By Emily Tifft, Events & Marketing Intern
Our newly opened gallery, 20th-21st Century Abstraction, takes visitors on a journey through the Abstract Expressionist Movement, giving a better understanding of geometric cohesion, the relationships between colors and the variety of texture these artists were able to achieve.
Stan Freborg’s Ambivalence is a vibrant composition with broad strokes of red, blue and mint green, suggestive of a bustling city, complemented by black splashes and tangled strokes. This piece emphasizes the relationship between colors, as well as the importance of brushstroke technique to map a path of movement, both on the canvas and the mind of the viewer as they draw visual comparisons. Freborg was an American artist who studied at the Hans Hofmann school and was a member of the New York School of Abstract Expressionism. Later, his style shifted towards Figurative Expressionism. He worked with various mediums, including painting, sculpture, plaster, copper and wrought iron.
Another highlight in this exhibition, Untitled #2, is from artist Freddie Styles. Styles, an American abstractionist, is known for his references to the natural world. The 'Untitled' series was heavily influenced by Styles’ passion for gardening. His pieces resemble organic vegetation, which he achieved through techniques that emphasize texture. Styles is not only known for his acrylic paintings, but also his unique collages, yet again mimicking the textures of outdoor elements.
A notable piece from this collection is Perle Fine’s Cool Series #45, Striated Yellow, which was selected by the Muscarelle’s 2023 Curator’s Circle members. This series marked a shift from Fine's earlier, more gestural Abstract Expressionist style towards a reductive and geometric approach to painting. Fine created this series while living in a period of isolation in East Hampton, finding inspiration in her natural surroundings.
The 'Cool Series' paintings utilized imagery of rectangles and squares, often employing a dichromatic color palette. This series aimed to create a direct emotional and intellectual experience for the viewer, focusing on their interaction with color and space. The variation in brushstrokes ranges from crisp lines to soft, airy strokes, contributing to a sense of fluidity and light. Fine's experiments with color in the 'Cool Series' explored both subtle and vibrant hues to create a sense of light and space, reminiscent of artists like Rothko, but with a new perspective.
20th-21st Century Abstraction is located in galleries one through three, featuring 21 original works by a variety of artists from the Abstract Expressionist movement. This collection offers a unique experience for its viewers, with explosions of color and imagery that encourage a wide range of creative interpretation and technique.
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