Ascent (aka Liberation) 1946

Agnes Pelton made Ascent, also known as Liberation, using oil paint to create a soft, dreamlike image. You can almost feel the process of layering and blending as she coaxes these subtle forms into being. The material presence is gentle, the colours are thin washes of lavender and cream, which create a sense of otherworldliness. Look closely at the shapes within the central form; it’s as if she's conjuring a spirit or a being in the process of becoming. Her brushwork is not about bravado, but about quiet searching, a visual meditation. It's the kind of painting where the artist seems to be listening to the painting as much as making it, waiting for the image to emerge from the mist. Pelton's interest in abstraction, spirituality, and the landscape remind me of Hilma af Klint; both explored realms beyond the visible, seeking to capture something essential about existence. Art like this invites us to let go of our need for certainty and embrace the magic of not-knowing.