Chyrow II 1972

Frank Stella made ‘Chyrow II’ with enamel on wood. When I look at this, I think about the way the paint sits on the surface, almost like a second skin. It’s not trying to trick you into thinking it’s something else. Instead, it’s like, “Hey, I’m paint, and I’m here to play.” I get a sense of Stella piecing this together, one shape informing the next. I imagine him stepping back, squinting, maybe tilting his head, trying to figure out what it needs. It's all about colour and form doing a little dance, pushing and pulling against each other. That pop of orange, for instance, it zings, doesn’t it? It's almost like Stella is saying, "Let’s see what happens if I throw this into the mix." The piece feels so connected to other painters of his generation, all riffing off each other, trying to push the boundaries of what painting could be. It’s like a big, ongoing conversation. And who knows where it will lead next?