Untitled 1960

Curator: Al Held created this “Untitled” piece in 1960, utilizing acrylic on canvas. What do you make of it? Editor: At first glance, I find the painting's raw energy captivating; the layering of colors – black, blue, red, brown – creating an almost pulsating effect. The forms are so elemental, like giant building blocks stacked haphazardly. It is also rather unsettling. Curator: It’s fascinating you say that! During this time, Held was exploring ways to push Abstract Expressionism into new territory, incorporating geometric forms. There's an element of planned chaos here, pushing against the controlled rigidity often associated with geometric abstraction. It certainly challenges notions of institutional and academic conventions. Editor: Planned chaos, I love that! It feels very anti-establishment to me. Were there many galleries at the time who promoted such radicalism? Curator: That is very true! In fact, Held was exhibited and supported by the legendary Leo Castelli, who significantly influenced how the public understood abstract art, particularly movements like Pop Art. Held pushed past gestural abstraction, integrating harder-edged shapes that hinted toward a more industrial, machine-like aesthetic. The raw paint application almost makes it seem like he was defying high art notions of perfection. Editor: So, a conscious decision to embrace a raw, almost unfinished aesthetic. It looks like it could fall into the pop-art aesthetic category. I wonder if his choices served as a rebellious act against the refined norms of the established art world, perhaps mirroring the political turbulence of the decade? The colour palette, too, is jarring, very brash and confident, rather provocative. Curator: Precisely! Its provocative quality is palpable. I would imagine encountering it in a gallery during that era could be an exciting and disruptive experience for many people, inviting them to question conventional definitions of beauty and skill within the larger art world. This “Untitled” painting then could be understood not just as a standalone artwork, but also as a marker of shifting social and cultural paradigms in mid-20th century America. Editor: It really highlights the tensions and anxieties that often underlie seemingly abstract forms. Ultimately, the image makes me reflect on how we shape and are shaped by the world around us. Curator: An apt reflection that echoes through history, still feeling urgent and present today.