Folder #01 2009

Pedro Calapez made this painting, Folder #01, with what looks like oil or acrylic, in a way that really highlights the act of artmaking itself. I love how the colors here are so bold and unapologetic. Look at that bright yellow bar juxtaposed with the muted purple – it’s like a visual shout! The paint is applied with a thick, buttery texture, and you can almost feel the drag of the brush across the surface. The way the different sections of colour are separated, gives the feeling that Calapez is creating in segments, almost like the painting is a map of his process. Take the lower teal section of the right form – the way it’s dabbed on, leaving these little peaks and valleys of paint, creates a tactile quality that just begs to be touched. It reminds me of some of the process-based work of Lynda Benglis, who also loves to play with the materiality of paint. Ultimately, the painting remains open-ended and invites us to participate in its ongoing evolution.