Untitled 1968

Dale Hickey made this ‘Untitled’ painting with, I am guessing, oil or acrylic. I am struck by the materiality of this piece – the way the subtle variations in the surface texture catch the light. The top register of blue squares is like a set of puffy clouds, rendered with this incredible precision. Hickey's process seems almost mechanical, yet there’s an unmistakable trace of the artist's hand throughout. Look at how the paint has been applied to these squares. There is this sense of meticulous control in how the color fades and blends. It reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin's grids, where the strict geometry is softened by the human touch. Both artists use repetition to create something meditative and open-ended. Ultimately, Hickey's painting is a testament to the endless possibilities within simplicity.