ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Mel Bochner's Shift from Language to Visual Expression

exhibition · 2026-04-24

In 1983, Mel Bochner's oil paintings surprised the art world, marking a departure from his rigorous intellectual approach to an openly gestural expression where color experience became paramount. Jan Van der Marck explores this transition. A retrospective of Bochner's work was held at Kunstmuseum Lucerne.

Key facts

  • Mel Bochner created oil paintings in 1983 that surprised observers.
  • The artist moved from an intellectual approach to gestural expression.
  • Color experience became increasingly important in his work.
  • Jan Van der Marck wrote about Bochner's transition.
  • A retrospective of Bochner's work was held at Kunstmuseum Lucerne.

Entities

Artists

  • Mel Bochner

Institutions

  • Kunstmuseum Lucerne

Locations

  • Lucerne
  • Switzerland

Sources