House: Spatter Painting 1988

Jennifer Bartlett made this gridded painting, House: Spatter Painting, using colorful splashes of paint. I can imagine her flicking her wrist, sending droplets across the surface, building up layer upon layer, trying different color combinations. It's a bit like a controlled explosion of pigment. I sympathize with Bartlett here, imagining her process. Did she start with a plan, or did she let the paint lead the way? The grid gives it structure, but within each square, there's this wild, almost chaotic energy. The paint looks thin, staining the surface with these tiny marks, building up texture and depth. Look at the contrast between the cool blues and pinks and the warm reds and yellows – it’s like she's playing with temperature and light. The way she's broken down this image reminds me of Chuck Close, or even Sol Lewitt. These artists are all in conversation, riffing off each other's ideas, pushing the boundaries of what painting can be. It’s all about opening up possibilities, embracing the messy, unpredictable nature of the medium.