Untitled c. 1960

This untitled print by Glen Alps is a symphony of semi-transparent color. I can almost see the artist at work, layering those semi-transparent shapes, with a color palette that includes greens, blues and mauves. I wonder if Glen felt the piece was finished, or whether he felt the piece was unresolved? I like the shapes here. They are floating and almost leaf-like. There's a verticality in the middle that's really working. Look at the way the colors interact; they create a beautiful translucent quality, like light filtering through stained glass. I wonder if these shapes were found or were created and repeated over time? Abstract art is like looking into a mirror where you get to decide what you see. Artists like Glen Alps are engaged in a conversation with us and with art history. They take risks, experiment, and push the boundaries of what painting and printmaking can be.