Pools - Eden Roc [Miami] 2002

Sarah Morris made this work, titled "Pools - Eden Roc [Miami]", by applying household gloss paint onto canvas. The hard-edged geometry and vibrant colors immediately recall mid-century modernism – the aesthetic of postwar corporate identity. Yet, the sleek, commercial finish of the gloss paint gives it an even more contemporary feel. Morris’s application of paint seems to be a straightforward process, but it’s precisely this apparent simplicity that makes the work so compelling. She uses basic, readily available materials to evoke complex ideas about consumerism, architecture, and the seductive power of surfaces. The smooth, reflective quality of the gloss paint is key. It flattens the image, turning the composition into a visual puzzle. By using such an accessible, mass-produced material, Morris subverts the traditional hierarchy between fine art and everyday life, challenging us to find beauty and meaning in the most unexpected places.