Deborah Salt's Minimalist Paintings Create Perceptual Experiences Through Diagonal Placement and Glowing Edges
For over 15 years, Los Angeles-based artist Deborah Salt has crafted a distinctive style of minimal geometric abstraction. Her artworks showcase central surfaces in white or black, surrounded by sides layered with 12 to 20 vibrant colors, which illuminate adjacent walls. Each rectangular piece is displayed at an angle, enhancing the contrast with the exhibition walls and exploring the independence of art from architecture, reminiscent of John McCracken's sculptures. Utilizing natural light, Salt softens edges, echoing Sam Francis's Edge Paintings from the 1960s, to foster a pure perceptual experience. Her art invites meditation, with each piece influencing the next. This article, curated by Mary Corse, appeared in ArtReview in January & February 2016.
Key facts
- Deborah Salt lives and works in Los Angeles
- She has sustained a painting method for 15 years involving minimal geometric abstraction
- Her paintings have white or black central surfaces with sides painted in 12-to-20 monochromatic layers
- Each painting is hung diagonally with the lower left corner beneath the upper right corner
- The diagonal placement creates counterpoint to wall right-angles, addressing painting autonomy in space
- Sides generate a 'glow' of color that radiates onto surrounding walls using natural light
- This effect extends similar techniques seen in Sam Francis's 1960s Edge Paintings
- The article was first published in the January & February 2016 issue of ArtReview
Entities
Artists
- Deborah Salt
- Mary Corse
- John McCracken
- Sam Francis
Institutions
- ArtReview
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- San Francisco