Ellsworth Kelly Squares

Ellsworth Kelly is famous for his work as an artist. He was one of the key figures in postwar American art, exercising a major influence on Pop art, Minimalism, color field painting and hard-edge painting. Widely known for his brightly colored geometric compositions, he was among the first artists, alongside his contemporary Frank Stella, to use irregularly shaped canvases. Although highly abstract, Kelly’s paintings and prints are precise expressions in color and form of his sensory experience of the world. Some of his most famous pieces include Red Blue Green, Colors for a Large Wall, Green Curve and Cité. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Ellsworth Kelly art.

Ellsworth Kelly worked in Spencertown, New York. He was one of the key figures in postwar American art, exercising a major influence on the fields of Pop art, minimalism, Color Field and hard-edge painting. Widely known for his brightly colored geometric compositions, he was among the first artists to use irregularly shaped canvases. Although highly abstract, Kelly’s paintings and prints are precise expressions in color and form of his sensory experience of the world. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Ellsworth Kelly art.

Here are some interesting facts about Ellsworth Kelly. As a child growing up in Newburgh, New York, near the Oradell Reservoir, he was an avid birder and loved the colorful illustrations of naturalist John James Audubon. A high school teacher encouraged him to study art, so he enrolled at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, studying there until 1943, when he enlisted in the army. During World War II, he served, along with scores of other artists, in a unit known as the Ghost Army, where he learned the elements of camouflage while creating fake trucks and tanks intended to mislead Axis forces.

When the war was over, Kelly took advantage of the G.I. Bill to study painting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, drawing inspiration from the museum's collections. He later studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

Kelly went on to become one of the key figures in postwar American art, particularly influencing Pop art, minimalism, color field and hard edge painting. Widely known for his brightly colored geometric compositions, he was among the first artists, alongside his contemporary Frank Stella, to use irregularly shaped canvases. Although highly abstract, Kelly’s paintings and prints are precise expressions in color and form of his sensory experience of the world. Explore a collection of Ellsworth Kelly art on 1stDibs.

Ellsworth Kelly used a variety of materials over the course of his career. The American artist produced paintings with oil paints on canvas and two-dimensional works with a sponge roller and oil-based ink. Kelly was also a sculptor, experimenting with steel, aluminum and bronze as well as birch, elm, mahogany, maple and oak woods. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Ellsworth Kelly art.

Ellsworth Kelly is known for being an influential American artist. His work helped popularize hard-edge painting, the practice of creating sharp, bold transitions between colors. Some of his most famous paintings include Colors for a Large Wall, Four Panels, Red Blue Green and Yellow Piece. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Ellsworth Kelly art.