Untitled #21

James F. Dicke II, Untitled #21, 2009, mixed media on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Marsha Ralls, 2010.19.2, © 2009, James F. Dicke II
Copied James F. Dicke II, Untitled #21, 2009, mixed media on canvas, 40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Marsha Ralls, 2010.19.2, © 2009, James F. Dicke II

Artwork Details

Title
Untitled #21
Artist
Date
2009
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm)
Copyright
© 2009, James F. Dicke II
Credit Line
Gift of Marsha Ralls
Mediums
Mediums Description
mixed media on canvas
Classifications
Keywords
  • Abstract
Object Number
2010.19.2
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2010.19.2

Artwork Description

James F. Dicke II finds inspiration for his art in nature, specifically images of galaxies produced by the Hubble Space Telescope. To create his paintings, he attaches the canvas to a potter's wheel and carefully pools drops of paint onto the surface. He then spins the canvas so that centrifugal force pulls the beads of paint outward from the center. In Untitled #21 the partially blended layers of saturated color streak away from the dark blue central shape, evoking light emerging from deep space.