Blue on White

Ellsworth Kelly, Blue on White, 1961, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., 1969.47.63
Ellsworth Kelly, Blue on White, 1961, oil on canvas, 85 5867 34 in. (217.5172.1 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., 1969.47.63

Artwork Details

Title
Blue on White
Date
1961
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
85 5867 34 in. (217.5172.1 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract
Object Number
1969.47.63

Artwork Description

Ellsworth Kelly's paintings preserve and intensify his memories of things seen swiftly, fragmented glimpses of "leaves, grass, [and] cracks in the wall." In Blue on White, a curvilinear blue shape dominates the white background. But just as quickly, the angular edges of the white appear to cut into the billowy blue. Kelly isn't interested in assigning meaning to his works. The artist would rather create colors and shapes so intense that they are like three-dimensional objects; as he once said, "To hell with pictures."

Works by this artist (9 items)

Unknown Boricua Streaming: A Nuyorican State of Mind
Date2011
single-channel HD video, color, sound; 08:09 minutes
Not on view
Juan Sánchez, Cielo /Tierra / Esperanza, 1990, photolithograph with collograph and stenciled paper pulp on handmade paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Donna Barnard Ari in honor of Susan Sollins, 2005.18A-B, © 1990, Juan Sanchez
Cielo /​Tierra / Esperanza
Date1990
photolithograph with collograph and stenciled paper pulp on handmade paper
Not on view
Juan Sánchez, Para Don Pedro, 1992, lithograph, photolithograph and collage with additions in oil stick and pencil, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Julia D. Strong Endowment, 1998.97, © 1992, Juan Sánchez
Para Don Pedro
Date1992
lithograph, photolithograph and collage with additions in oil stick and pencil
Not on view
Juan Sánchez, Confused Paradi(c)e, 1996, lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2013.59A-B, © 1996, Juan Sánchez
Confused Paradi(c)e
Date1996
lithograph
Not on view