J-M-3-81 1981

Conrad Marca-Relli made J-M-3-81 with collage and paint, and looking at it, I can only imagine his process of cutting, pasting, layering, and overpainting. It’s like he built a puzzle and then decided to unbuild it just a little. I think he might have been thinking about space, like how shapes can push forward or recede depending on how he positioned them. The edges, rough and slightly stained, give each piece a history, like they’ve been through something. The surface of the work feels almost geological, like sediment packed over time. The palette is muted, mostly white and grays, but those rusty outlines give the whole thing a kind of warmth. It's as if the colors are whispering to each other, creating this quiet hum. I see Marca-Relli's conversation with other collage artists like Anne Ryan or even Schwitters. Each one playing with the push and pull of found materials, and each one inspiring the other across time.