Jules Olitski: Color to the Core, Paintings 1960–1964

Jules Olitski: Color to the Core presents a revelatory survey of the artist’s seminal Core paintings from 1960–1964, a series that marked a dramatic shift from his earlier, monochromatic Spackle paintings toward a bold exploration of pure color and form. Created with luminous Magna acrylic paint, these striking works feature oversized rings and arcs of saturated color enclosing floating discs and organic shapes, demonstrating Olitski’s highly personal and innovative approach to abstraction. From the vertical ovals of Necessary Light (1959) to the expansive sweeps of Circle Stretch (1963), this catalogue traces the evolution of this pivotal series, revealing how Olitski pushed the boundaries of composition and color relationships while maintaining a delicate balance between the ravishing and the slightly disturbing. The show positions the Core paintings as a crucial moment in Olitski’s artistic development and in the broader history of Color Field painting.

Published by Yares Art, New York, 2020

Essays by David Ebony, Alexander Nemerov, and Patricia L Lewy

Designed by Tim Laun and Natalie Wedeking

Edited by SNAP Editions

Fully illustrated, 124 pages

_{Cover Image © Jules Olitski Art Foundation / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY}