Kenneth Noland, Spread. 1958. Oil on canvas. 117 x 117 in. (297.2 x 297.2 cm). Grey Art Gallery, New York Univ., New York NY.

The Art Story:

Kenneth Noland’s art can be categorized as Color Field painting, or as part of Clement Greenberg’s “Post-Painterly Abstraction” movement, but Noland’s body of work demonstrates so much more. After studying under the likes of Bolotowsky and Albers, and working alongside fellow second-generation abstractionists like Frankenthaler and Louis, Noland created several signature styles of abstract imagery. These styles were comprised of targets, chevrons, striped patterns and shaped canvases. Noland’s paintings are characterized by reduced, minimalist and strikingly simple compositions of line and color. In this regard, Noland’s art has influenced a wide range of contemporary abstractionists who continue to experiment with ultra-simplified forms in order to tap into basic human emotions.