On Gray Pink 1988

Robert Goodnough made this untitled painting with, what looks like, paper or painted canvas fragments on a pinkish-grey ground, a lovely understated palette. The process seems very hands-on. The material aspects of this work are so interesting. The texture is built from overlapping triangles, little shapes, like confetti or tiny roofs. Notice that the pieces seem very thin. They are papery, and slightly transparent, creating subtle variations and shadows. Look at the way the artist has carefully arranged them to form larger shapes that seem like clouds, or rising balloons. Each piece is like a brushstroke, collectively forming a composition where figure and ground merge. Goodnough’s use of collage reminds me of Kurt Schwitters, who also built entire worlds from fragments. Ultimately, art is all about conversations across time, and Goodnough is reminding us that ambiguity can be a strength.