Fly Away 1992

Al Held's 'Fly Away' is a watercolour on paper, and what immediately grabs me is the sense of playful geometry. There’s a real joy in how he layers these shapes, letting the colours bleed and interact. You can really see Held's hand in the washes of colour; they're not trying to hide the process. The watercolour is applied thinly in layers, so the colours blend together in a way that feels both controlled and spontaneous. Look closely, and you'll notice how the transparency of the paint allows colours underneath to peek through, creating depth and complexity. That central green circle with its sharp, clean edge is a particular joy. It feels like a portal or an eye. Held reminds me a little of early Frank Stella, with that focus on geometric forms, but there's a lightness to this which invites you to find your own meaning. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, an exploration of ideas, and a space for our own interpretations.