“Upstart XXV,” a work by artist Paul Reed, was created in 1966 and is a representative piece of the Color Field Painting movement, an abstract genre that emphasizes large fields of flat, solid color spread across the canvas to create a homogenous surface. The artwork presents an abstraction characterized by vibrant, unmodulated bands of color that intersect and overlap against a plain background.
This artwork is defined by its bold use of color and geometric forms to create visual impact. The composition consists of several diagonal bands in various colors, including shades of blue, red, green, and orange, which cut across a neutral off-white backdrop. The colors appear pure and intense, a signature characteristic of the Color Field Painting style, while the edges of these colorful bands are sharp and clearly defined, yet display a slight irregularity that suggests a human touch in their application. The visual effect is dynamic, as the bands juxtapose and interact with each other, suggesting movement and depth within the otherwise flat pictorial plane. The artwork reflects Paul Reed’s exploration of the perceptual and emotive power of color, as well as his contribution to the avant-garde movements of the mid-20th century.
