Art Noticeboard: Robert Ryman, 1930

Monday, 11 February 2019

Robert Ryman, 1930 - 2019

Robert Ryman, Ledger, 1982

Robert Ryman died 8 February 2019.

Robert Ryman made white, monochrome paintings, for about 60 years. Or not.

From ArtNews: Asked if he made “white paintings” in 1971 in Artforum, Ryman replied, “No, it may seem that way superficially, but there are a lot of nuances and there’s color involved. Always the surface is used. The gray of the steel comes through; the brown of the corrugated paper comes through; the linen comes through, the cotton (which is not the same as the paint—it seems white): all of those things are considered. It’s really not monochrome painting at all.” (From ArtNews - see below)

And the works are, given the limitations of palette, astonishingly varied and inventive. And beautiful.
I don't think of myself as making white paintings. I make paintings; I'm a painter. White paint is my medium. (Artforum, May 1971)

Read appreciations and obituaries:
Adrian Searle (The Guardian) "The master of white who took painting apart."
Oliver Basciano (The Guardian) "American artist known for his white paintings who was regarded as the link between abstract expressionism and minimalism."

Jerry Saltz (Vulture) "In Remembrance of Robert Ryman, 1930-2019."
Andrew Russeth (ArtNews): "Robert Ryman, Relentlessly Inventive Abstract Painter, Is Dead at 88”

Roberta Smith (The New York Times) “Robert Ryman, Minimalist Painter Who Made the Most of White, Dies at 88”.
Gareth Harris (The Art Newspaper) "Art world tributes for Minimalist painter, Robert Ryman"