Kenneth Noland, the foundations of color

Kenneth Noland, a founding member of the Washington Color School, played a key role in the evolution of postwar American abstraction. His experimentation with form and color led to groundbreaking works that redefined the language of painting. He studied at Black Mountain College from 1946 to 1948, where he was influenced by Josef Albers and John Cage, developing a strong interest in color and chance. Noland treated color as a central element in his abstract compositions, which featured circles and other geometric shapes. Recognized as one of the leading abstract artists of his time, he was praised by critics and colleagues, including Donald Judd, who in 1965 called him "one of the best painters."