Minimalism never looked so vivid as at the hands of John McCracken, a celebrated artist who experimented with spare geometries and rainbow hues from the early 1960s until his death in 2011. A survey of his work is now on view at dealer David Zwirner's newest Manhattan gallery, on West 20th Street. Complemented by his paintings and sketches, the artist’s exhibited sculptures range in form from freestanding columns to jagged wall-mounted wedges.
As McCracken explained in his own journal, pages of which are also on display at the gallery: "My work is obviously related to architectural models of the past—Stonehenge, Egyptian temples, pyramids, and various other structures in history past and present." Such shapes are realized in an array of bold tones, among them bubblegum-pink and Kelly green. "Radiant, jewel-like color, it's color I'm after," McCracken wrote. "Try to visualize these things in color. Clear marvelous color. That's the vision I've had from a long time ago but keep forgetting." One look at this show and it's color you'll remember.
Through October 19; davidzwirner.com
