Untitled 1968

Ray Parker made this ‘Untitled’ painting sometime during his career, using acrylic on canvas. I like how these shapes just hang out together, these are what I call relational shapes. The surface feels pretty flat, and the paint seems pretty thin, so nothing really jumps out at you. But then you notice the colors. That pale lavender background is doing a lot of work, creating a calming, spacious vibe. The way the shapes interact is just so casual, like they bumped into each other at a party and decided to stick around. I particularly like the olive-green shape on the right, how it kind of droops and almost merges with the background. It's like a little moment of surrender, which I find very appealing. Parker reminds me a bit of someone like Helen Frankenthaler, in that he's interested in color and form, but with a softer, more playful approach. It’s all so unassuming, yet so quietly radical. It’s not about making a big statement, but about creating a space for contemplation and visual pleasure.