I was 15 when I first encountered Clyfford Still's 1951/1952 at The Art Institute of Chicago and was immediately entranced, filled with wonder about the mystery that lay within a two-dimensional black surface, and delighted by the strength of the patches of color that dared to jump out of the seemingly endless void. 1951/1952 made sense and became my touchstone, serving as a portal to the simultaneous quiet and chaos within my soul.
In 2009, AIC built a new wing and relegated 1951/1952 to storage. I miss it, but having spent so much time contemplating this painting, it continues to resonate and influence my work as an artist. I was proud to premiere my Still series of paintings in Denver, home of the Clyfford Still Museum.