Ellsworth Kelly's Chatham Series at MoMA: A Study in Color and Form
The Museum of Modern Art showcased Ellsworth Kelly's Chatham Series from May 23 to September 8, 2013, displaying fourteen paintings crafted in the early 1970s. This series features unique upside-down "L" shaped compositions, consisting of two connected rectangular panels in varying hues. Although the works were created in Chatham, New York, Kelly maintained his established color palette without introducing pastoral elements. Curator Ann Temkin arranged the paintings in adjacent spaces within MoMA's Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries. A standout piece, Chatham VI: Red Blue (1971), showcases a red panel positioned above a shorter blue one. The exhibition highlighted Kelly's emphasis on optical experiences and accessibility, while shifting away from ideological stances to focus on color and proportion interactions.
Key facts
- Ellsworth Kelly's Chatham Series exhibition ran May 23 to September 8, 2013 at MoMA
- The series includes fourteen paintings created in early 1970s in Chatham, New York
- Each painting features an upside-down "L" shape of two conjoined colored panels
- Curator Ann Temkin installed works across multiple adjoining rooms
- Kelly relocated to Chatham for larger workspace and fewer interruptions
- The exhibition was at MoMA's Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Painting and Sculpture Galleries
- Chatham VI: Red Blue (1971) has red horizontal panel atop shorter blue panel
- Kelly's work provides optical pleasure without ideological positioning
Entities
Artists
- Ellsworth Kelly
- Josef Albers
- De Kooning
- Ann Temkin
Institutions
- The Museum of Modern Art
- artcritical
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Chatham
- New York
- Long Island
- Manhattan