Monochromatic Paintings 1975-1979
In the Seventies, the art world’s discourse was mired in reductive ideas, pivoting in and out of the imagery of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns.. but at the same time, of the minimal Carl Andre, Donald Judd, Robert Ryman, Frank Stella, Sol Lewitt.
It seemed to me, the pursuit of something as much “visceral” as much “visual” would be worth doing. Here the painting, relying on combined color structures for impact, would operate on its own particular terms, demanding its own time and concentration. It was what the painting did, and what the painting refused to do.Meanwhile I started making structures to create a bent surface out of plywood. They resembled a section of a ship’s hull – ribs bent, holding a continuous surface. Layer upon layer of paint, almost like film, started to create depth, these bands started to come alive. Next it becomes one color, with the two lines eventually taking on different positions, with that continuing the search. continued experimenting with pastels, keeping in mind how far I might I want to take the oil paintings. Their differing physicalities allowed one medium to drive the other. The power of this work is in the subtlety of the colors against the physical aspect of the curved surface. A delicate balance to be sure.
– Studio Update 12, George Peck 2022
Exhibition Shot – George Peck, Susan Caldwell Gallery, New York, NY 1977
Untitled, 1976; oil and wax on canvas, 60″ x 44″ x 7″
Untitled, 1976; oil and wax on canvas, 47″ x 35″ x 4 1/2″
Amice, 1976; oil on canvas on plywood structure, 60″ x 47 1/2″ x 3 1/4″
Virginia, 1976; oil and wax on canvas, 58″ x 45″ x 3 1/4″
Front View / Bent painting, 1976
Side View / Bent Painting, 1976
Back View / Bent Painting, 1976
Installation View / Bent painting, 1976; oil on canvas on plywood structure, 22″ x 14 7/8″ x 2 1/4″
Rappard, 1976; Oil on canvas on plywood structure, 58″ x 46″
Ed #1, 1976; oil and wax on plywood structure, 4′ x 5′
Ed #3, 1976-77; oil on canvas on plywood structure, 60″ x 47 1/2″ x 3 1/4″
Ed #4, 1977; oil on canvas on plywood structure, 34″ x 25″ x 2 1/4″
Black to Oil (triptych), 1977; oil on canvas on plywood structure, 68 1/3″ x 138 1/3″ x 3 1/4″
My Trick, 1977; oil on canvas on plywood structure, 32″ x 30″ x 4 1/8″
Wisperjet, 1977; oil on canvas on plywood structure, 60″ x 47 1/2″ x 3 1/4″
Yellow, 1977; oil on canvas on plywood structure, 60″ x 47″ x 3″
Texas Queen, 1977; oil on canvas on plywood structure, 60″ x 47 1/2″ x 3 1/4″
K. Painting for B, 1977; oil on canvas on plywood structure, 5′ x 4′ x 6″
Exhibition View / Kiscelli Museum, Budapest, Hungary (2002) / K. Painting for B (1977)
Untitled / Red, 1977, Oil on canvas 20″ x 15″ x 2″
Romantic Painting #1, 1977-78; oil on canvas, 72″ x 57″ x 3 1/2″
Exhibition Shot – George Peck, Susan Caldwell Gallery, New York, NY 1979
Tango Esmeraldo, 1978; oil on canvas over wood, 57″ x 60 1/2″ x 3 3/8″
Bent Curtain for Mia (triptych), 1979, oil on wood and masonite structure, 8′ x 12′ x 21″
Esmeraldo Group #1, 1978; oil on canvas on masonite and plywood structure, 22 1/8″ x 15″ x 2 1/4″
Esmeraldo Group #2, 1978; oil on canvas on masonite and plywood structure, 22 1/8″ x 15″ x 2 1/4″
Hurricane PTG, 1979; oil on canvas on masonite, 5′ x 6′ x 10″
This entire body of work can be found here:
Monochromatic Catalogue / Archive
