Stanley Whitney

On the final day of Black History Month, I want to give snaps to my favorite living painter, who happens to be a person of color, Stanley Whitney. At the highest level, I actually don’t have anything to add to what’s been written about him, other than I have wanted to lick every one of his paintings I’ve ever seen in person. #sorrynotsorry

I have Stanley to thank for my introduction to John Yau, who did a great write up on Stanley and two other painters* in the context of a two-location exhibit with Lisson Gallery in NYC in 2018, around the time my practice reignited.

Stanley popped to the top of mind for me not so much because of the importance of February for all of us to educate ourselves, but because, like Jack, Helen put his show at ICA Boston last year on her top shows list. (link is to Spotify)

*btw, that Yau article also makes note of Harriet and Melissa; speaking of fantastic painters who are also female, Stanley’s spouse Marina is an effing savant with color as well.

Update- this video with Stanley includes my favorite quotable bit of wisdom from him regarding following a painting out the window (just watch- link will take you to YouTube).

#stanleywhitney