Jack Whitten's 2013 Exhibition at Alexander Gray Associates Showcases Technical Innovation and Exuberant Color

In 2013, Jack Whitten showcased his dynamic paintings at Alexander Gray Associates in New York City, highlighting his innovative techniques and vibrant material use. The exhibition, held from September 11 to October 12 at 508 West 26th Street #215, included notable pieces such as 'Nine Cosmic CD's: For the Firespitter (Jayne Cortez),' characterized by a rich red hue achieved through raking unmixed colors. Another significant work, 'Warping Pythagoras: For Alan Uglow,' displays a skewed representation of the Pythagorean Theorem on a bright white canvas, measuring 6 feet by 4½ feet. Whitten, who trained as a pilot in Tuskegee University’s air ROTC and studied medicine at Tuskegee and Southern University, began incorporating figurative elements in his 1960s works, including the 1968 piece 'King's Wish (Martin Luther's Dream).' In the 1970s, he shifted from Abstract Expressionism, using tools like squeegees and afro-combs, evident in 'April's Shark' from 1974. His work gained recent recognition through a 2007 exhibition at MoMA PS1, a 2013 show at the Rose Art Museum, and the inclusion of '9-11-01' in the 2013 Venice Biennale. The 2013 piece 'Remote Control' features a grid of acrylic pop-ups against a stark black backdrop.