Ohne Titel (für Thordes) 1976

These untitled works "für Thordes" by Blinky Palermo, look like they were quickly brushed onto paper. They remind us that artmaking is a process. The texture seems almost translucent in places. Colors aren't blended but layered, and this really emphasizes the physicality of the medium. In one, you can see how the yellow peeks out beneath the block of green and red, creating a glowing effect. It's not about hiding the process, but showing it. You can almost see the artist making a decision to leave some brushstrokes visible. These works share an economy of gesture with the paintings of Agnes Martin, but where Martin focused on subtle gradations, Palermo seems interested in a more visceral kind of experience. Art is an ongoing conversation, and it doesn't have to provide all the answers.