Wall Pocket c. 1939

This is Nicholas Zupa’s 'Wall Pocket,’ and I’m imagining the moment when the artist, pencil in hand, lightly sketched the delicate form, thinking through its intricate decorations. I can feel the artist’s tenderness towards the flowers, leaves, and berries—observing nature so intently that they have become an intimate part of its structure. The artist renders this wall pocket so precisely, yet there is a certain looseness in the details. The pastel blues and pinks evoke a sense of nostalgia, almost as though the pocket is a relic from the past, resurrected through memory. Zupa's work sits in a fascinating dialogue with folk art traditions and other types of decorative painting. It makes me think of artists today who are drawing on similar techniques to celebrate craft and explore ideas around domesticity. Ultimately, this work reminds us that artists are in constant conversation, playfully building upon each other's work, inspiring new perspectives, and keeping the creative spirit alive!