Abstraction: A Tool for Today

Abstraction has shaped art history by liberating form from representation, allowing artists to distill essence from reality. But art always begins from lived experience. Pablo Picasso echoed this in saying, “There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality.” Not only does abstraction begin in our perception of the world, but it also cultivates the acuity of our perception.

The Post-War and Contemporary prints and paintings in this show celebrates abstraction as a historical and ongoing tool training us to explore reality, uncovering the underlying essence and structure of our world. Seen together, these works call to mind David Hockney’s assertion, “All painting, no matter what you’re painting, is abstract in that it’s got to be organized.” The painter’s role is an interpretive one, inventing upon what they understand about the world, and conveying it in two-dimensions through form and color.

From Abstract Expressionism’s emotive gestures to the Cool School’s restraint, Pattern and Decoration’s intricate grids, and Gutai’s material experiments, these works span lyrical and geometric modes.

Herb Alpert’s Tsunami channels lyrical abstraction, its melded colors surging like elemental forces, inviting viewers to sense nature’s power. Tony de Los Reyes’ Border Compression #1 uses seams to evoke boundaries, prompting reflection on connection in a fractured world. Valerie Jaudon’s Palmyra, rooted in Pattern and Decoration, weaves architectural rhythms, creating order from complexity. Paul Jenkins’ Phenomena Procession Falls harnesses gestural energy, its effusive pools of colors echoing Abstract Expressionism’s emotional depth. Sadamasa Motonaga’s Untitled emphasizes Gutai’s focus on materiality, urging viewers to consider how physical properties dictate movement. Julian Schnabel’s Untitled blends bold gesture with structural intent.

Historically, abstraction broke from realism, enabling artists to probe universal truths through form and color. Today, it remains vital, training us to see beyond surface appearances, encouraging imaginative flexibility in a complex world. By distilling reality into organized forms – be it Alpert’s fluid torrents or Jaudon’s disciplined patterns— these works reveal the structures beneath our environment, from cultural boundaries to emotional currents, affirming abstraction’s power to reframe how we perceive and understand reality.