Taos #2 1961

Conrad Marca-Relli made this collage, Taos #2, with canvas in shades of tan, cream and white. The making is so evident in this piece, Marca-Relli’s process is laid bare for us to see. The layering of materials creates a topography of shapes, each with its own subtle texture and tone. Look closely at the bottom right corner, where a larger expanse of canvas shows how the material has aged, darkened with time. It’s really a meditation on the nature of painting, but also on time, memory, and the way things fall apart and come together again. Marca-Relli worked with collage throughout his career, so if you like this, be sure to look at his other works, where he used different colours and materials to create contrasting effects. I am reminded a bit of Kurt Schwitters, although Marca-Relli is less chaotic somehow. It’s a great example of how art is an ongoing conversation, each artist building upon the ideas of those who came before, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.