Vesta 2013

Adam Caldwell built this painting, "Vesta," from umber and ochre hues, punctuated with fiery oranges and blacks. The artist's hand is evident; you can see the push and pull, the scraping and layering, that defines its making. I get a sense of the artist puzzling over this scene, figuring it out as he goes. The brushstrokes around the figure are restless, searching for a way to connect with the dark, moody ground. I can imagine him stepping back, squinting, maybe muttering to himself, then lunging forward to make another mark. Look how the red cord snakes up, almost like a lifeline connecting the figure to some unknown force. Caldwell is in conversation with artists like Jenny Saville and Francis Bacon, wrestling with the human form, pushing it, pulling it, distorting it to reveal something deeper. This feels like an ongoing investigation, a process of discovery rather than a definitive statement. And that’s what makes it so compelling. It reminds us that painting is alive, evolving, and full of delicious uncertainty.