Al Held's 'Beyond Sense' Exhibition at Robert Miller Gallery Showcases Monumental Paintings

Al Held's exhibition 'Beyond Sense' ran from November 20, 2003 to January 3, 2004 at Robert Miller Gallery in New York. The show featured large-scale paintings characterized by technical precision and dramatic compositions. 'Genesis II,' the largest painting in the exhibition, demonstrates Held's mastery through its complex geometric forms and vibrant color palette. Two receding grid planes split by a cadmium orange pipe create spatial tension, while green fog-like forms and floating orbs populate the alien landscape. Held's surfaces reveal scraped lines from discarded compositions, evidence of his process-driven approach where paintings emerge through making rather than pre-planning. This exhibition marked a departure from his 2002 PS1 show where he integrated motifs from 19th century American landscape painting within mathematical geometry. While the PS1 exhibition featured earth tones and historical references, 'Beyond Sense' employs brighter, more optically stimulating colors reminiscent of Pop art. The paintings emphasize graphic impact through repeating forms and intricate patterning that demands visual engagement. Critics noted similarities to Frank Stella's recent work rather than historical landscape traditions. Despite the technical brilliance evident in works like 'See Through,' some observers found the emphasis on optical effects diminished the serious artistic concerns present in Held's previous exhibition.