Coloured Wall 2003

Sean Scully created "Coloured Wall," a print of stacked rectangles. The rectangles, rendered in muted tones of yellow, orange, brown, and blue, evoke the urban landscapes and architectural forms that captivated Scully, especially during his time in New York City. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Scully's personal history as an immigrant deeply influenced his artistic vision. His move to the United States in the 1970s coincided with a period of significant social and cultural change, including the rise of postmodernism and debates around identity and representation. Scully translates these broad shifts into deeply personal meditations on memory, place, and belonging. Though abstract, pieces like "Coloured Wall" invite us to consider the emotional and experiential dimensions of urban life. Here, Scully eschews traditional representation for an abstract visual language of color and form. What does it mean to build walls? Are these barriers or do they delineate a sense of self and community?