Graham Nickson's 'Paths of the Sun' at Knoedler & Company features 40 years of sunrise and sunset paintings.

From September 15 to October 21, 2011, Knoedler & Company, situated at 19 East 70th Street in New York City, showcased Graham Nickson's exhibition titled 'Paths of the Sun.' This display included more than 40 paintings and watercolors spanning four decades, emphasizing scenes of sunrises and sunsets. Notable early works from 1972-74, created during Nickson's stay in Rome, exhibit a blend of abstraction and figuration, complemented by hand-painted frames. A series of watercolors portrays the same tree against diverse skies, featuring interlocking washes and hatched lines, reminiscent of Charles Burchfield and Per Kirkeby. The exhibition is anchored by three large paintings: 'Traveler; Red Sky' (2002), 'Red Lightening' (2008-10), and 'Tree of Birds' (2009-11), the latter depicting a tree of birds before a volcano amidst swirling clouds. Nickson's art reflects fleeting moments, capturing vivid colors after sunset on Cape Cod, where shimmering sandbars display hues of orange, red, magenta, green, and blue, emphasizing his bold use of medium and dramatic color contrasts, standing in contrast to modern immersive experiences.