Untitled 1953

Manoucher Yektai made this untitled painting, likely with oils, with an approach to mark making that feels both deliberate and wonderfully impulsive. The palette is restrained but enlivened by moments of vibrant color that remind me of Fairfield Porter. The thick, textured surface is built up from layers of paint – you can almost feel the physicality of the medium. Look at the way the white paint is applied, almost sculpted, with what looks like a palette knife! Then, see that stroke of vibrant red, like a slash, countered by the cool blues and lavenders. The materiality, the sheer presence of the paint, shapes our experience, evoking a sense of both energy and calm. It puts me in mind of Guston, but there is also something very original, almost defiant about Yektai's vision. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art isn't about fixed meanings but about embracing ambiguity, inviting multiple interpretations, and sparking an ongoing conversation across time.