Untitled 1970

This untitled piece is by Thomas Downing. He's taken this red ground and added some, well, dots. Now, I know what you're thinking—dots? But there's a beauty in the simplicity. The way he's placed those circles, one after the other, it's almost like a little visual melody, don't you think? The color is laid down flat, no fuss, but each dot has this halo around it, as if it's breathing, pushing the red away. Look at the pink one, how it softens against that bold red, it's such a delicate balance. There’s something about these kinds of works that makes you think of Agnes Martin, or even Sol LeWitt, but with a warmer feel. This piece isn't shouting at you; it's inviting you in, asking you to just be, and see.