Ellsworth Kelly

A spectacular survey of Kelly’s seven-decade exploration of abstraction

Accompanying the large-scale traveling exhibition Ellsworth Kelly at 100, this volume celebrates the groundbreaking career of the beloved American abstractionist. This publication highlights key aspects of his multifaceted art—from his lifelong drawing practice through his later explorations of layered canvas panels. Kelly frequently revisited shapes and motifs observed throughout his career, exploring form, color, line and space through painting, sculpture, collage, drawing and photography. The fully illustrated publication highlights works from major public and private collections alongside key works from Glenstone's collection, including seminal early pieces such as Painting for a White Wall (1952) and Painting in Three Panels (1956), as well as examples from the iconic Chatham and Spectrum series. Also featured is Yellow Curve (1990), a monumental floor painting installation that spans nearly 1,000 square feet, on view for the first time in more than 30 years since it was conceived for an exhibition at Portikus am Main in Frankfurt. Essays by Jean-Pierre Criqui, Alex Da Corte, Suzanne Hudson, Corey Keller and others explore and expand upon Kelly’s canon. With three gatefolds and a tip-on cover image, the book also includes unpublished archival materials from the artist’s studio and the Glenstone archives.
Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015) was born in Newburgh, New York. His first exhibition was held at the Betty Parsons Gallery in 1956; the Museum of Modern Art, New York, organized his first retrospective in 1973. Subsequent exhibitions have been held at museums including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, Tate in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.