Untitled 1983

Antonio Palolo made this untitled painting with what looks like oil pastels, working a red hot and cool blue palette. It’s so direct, almost primal, a great example of artmaking as a process of raw expression. Looking closely, you can see the texture of the paper coming through the strokes of color. The layering of reds, oranges and yellows creates a fiery backdrop, against the solid blue form. There's a real physicality to it, as if Palolo was wrestling with the materials, trying to pin down something elusive. I keep coming back to the figure’s hunched shoulder. It's a simple mark, but it speaks volumes about vulnerability. It reminds me of some of Joan Mitchell’s more figurative abstractions, where the emotional weight of the gesture is paramount. Ultimately, this piece embodies the beauty of ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the canvas.