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 (19 items)

Philadelphia Wireman, Untitled, ca. 1970-1975, tweezers, electrical cord, button, and wire, Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Margaret Z. Robson Collection, Gift of John E. and Douglas O. Robson, 2016.38.56
Untitled
Dateca. 1970-1975
tweezers, electrical cord, button, and wire
On view
Philadelphia Wireman, Untitled, ca. 1970-1975, found objects and wire, Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Margaret Z. Robson Collection, Gift of John E. and Douglas O. Robson, 2016.38.51
Untitled
Dateca. 1970-1975
found objects and wire
On view
Philadelphia Wireman, Untitled, ca. 1970-1975, piano keys, bead, chain, plastic, and wire, Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Margaret Z. Robson Collection, Gift of John E. and Douglas O. Robson, 2016.38.52
Untitled
Dateca. 1970-1975
piano keys, bead, chain, plastic, and wire
On view
Philadelphia Wireman, Untitled, ca. 1970-1975, found objects and wire, Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Margaret Z. Robson Collection, Gift of John E. and Douglas O. Robson, 2016.38.48
Untitled
Dateca. 1970-1975
found objects and wire
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

Claire Falkenstein, City is Man, 1941-1952, linocut, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.14, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
City is Man
Date1941-1952
linocut
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Untitled, 1976, embossed paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.18, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Untitled
Date1976
embossed paper
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Mandala, 1977, lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.19, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Mandala
Date1977
lithograph
Not on view
Nathan Oliveira, Site with Blue and White, 1978, monotype, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Moses Lasky, 2004.32.14
Site with Blue and White
Date1978
monotype
Not on view