Untitled (from Collection Resonance) 2011

Monique Orsini made this painting with luscious strokes of red, black, and green paint. I can imagine her standing in front of the canvas, lost in thought, maybe with a brush in one hand, and a rag in the other. There’s a real push and pull to this piece. See how the black paint swirls around, sometimes thick and opaque, other times dissolving into the pale green background. It’s like she’s building up a form, then immediately taking it away. That single gesture of red is so arresting, it almost looks like the final, decisive act. I love that it feels raw, intuitive, and open. It makes me think of other painters, like Joan Mitchell or Helen Frankenthaler, who weren’t afraid to let their emotions guide the brush. I see the legacy of those artists in Orsini's brushstrokes, a sense of daring and freedom that makes this painting so alive.