WESTFALL, Stephen

Oil and alkyd on canvas

30 X 24" CANVAS

Stephen Westfall continues to hone his very recognizable, hard-edge painting technique. Creating complex grid-like patterns—a seamlessly endless organizational device—Westfall’s artistic process can be viewed as a unique extension of geometric abstraction. Indeed Westfall’s repetition of certain forms is made special by his application of color. This application reveals the individual hand of the artist as well as subtle underpainting—slight distinctions to be seen between each prismatic color plane. Westfall has commented on his fascination with the spatial dynamics of this grid system, stating: “I like that it flickers back and forth between whole and fragment. There’s this back and forth between seeing the whole and then only being aware of fragments and being aware that the whole is made up of fragments.” In all his works one notes Westfall’s devotion to solid, bold colors that are arranged and layered with greater intricacy. These works highlight Westfall’s practice of color placement and arrangement of patterns which produce dazzling, yet balanced works.

2013

WESTFALL, Stephen

b. United States, 1953

Gift of the artist

2014.020.001