Untitled 1964

This is an untitled painting by Edward Avedisian, and there are not many clues as to when it was made or with what, so we have to look closely at the painting to get some clues. The way Avedisian has approached applying the pigment is interesting. The background looks like it has been applied by a brush. It’s all velvety and matte. Whereas the circles, or rather the rings, seem to have been stenciled on or perhaps screen-printed. They’re dense and perfect in a way that suggests a mechanical process. This contrast is interesting. It gives the painting an almost graphic quality, as if painting is a form of mechanical reproduction. There's a certain Pop Art vibe to this, but it also reminds me of the color experiments of Josef Albers. But unlike Albers, Avedisian isn't so concerned with color theory as he is with the sheer joy of putting these colors together. It's a celebration of color, form, and the process of art-making. It's all about openness and possibility.