Blue Panel (work of art)
Artwork Info
Key Ideas
- This monochromatic (consisting of one color) oil painting is an example of abstract art. It does not attempt to represent something from reality. It achieves its effect using shape, form, and color.
- This work combines elements of abstract art movements of the 1950s and 1960s. These include color field painting, hard-edge painting, and minimalism.
- Ellsworth Kelly was a painter, sculptor, and printmaker. He is considered to be one of the most influential abstract artists of the 20th century.
- Kelly is best known for painting bold, abstract geometric forms that explore the relationships between shape, form, and color.
Learn More
Ellsworth Kelly was an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker. His abstract geometric paintings (which he called “panels”) were often inspired by the shapes he saw in shadows, doors, and windows. His monochromatic panels emphasize the relationships between shape, color, and form.
My forms are geometric but don’t interact in a geometric sense. They’re just forms that exist everywhere, even if you don’t see them.
Ellsworth Kelly
Kelly’s work greatly influenced the development of multiple abstract art movements in the 1950s and 1960s. These include hard-edge painting, color field painting, and minimalism. Hard-edge painting is characterized by large, simplified, usually geometric forms on a flat surface. Color field painting involves the application of a single color to large areas of a work. Minimalism uses simple geometric shapes like squares and rectangles. Elements of all three art movements are evident in Blue Panel.
Kelly attended art school at Pratt Institute in New York City. He left in 1942 to serve in World War II. His battalion served in what is known today as the “Ghost Army.” Kelly used his art skills to teach the soldiers how to make decoy vehicles (including inflatable tanks) and to paint camouflage. They used these creative illusions to hide military equipment and confuse the German soldiers.
Additional Resources
Resources for Teachers
- Visit the artist’s website to see more examples of his work.
- Watch a video about the artist’s use of abstraction.
- Read the artist’s bio.
Resources for Students
- Read an article about Kelly’s life and work.
- Watch a video interview with the artist.
- Read a list of facts about the artist.
Images
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Blue Panel
A painting of a large, rectangular canvas that is painted solid blue. The painting is displayed at an angle on a solid white background.