Ellsworth Kelly (born 1923–2015) was a trailblazing American artist associated with Minimalism, Color Field painting, and Hard-edge painting. Kelly was born in Newburgh, New York and after serving in the military during World War II, he studied art in Boston and later in Paris on the G.I. Bill. His early works, influenced by his observations of nature and interest in non-representational art, displayed a keen sense of color and form. Kelly's artistic style is characterized by bold geometric shapes, vibrant color fields, and a commitment to simplicity. He became a pivotal figure in the abstraction movement, creating art that emphasized the interplay of color, shape, and space, often breaking away from the constraints of the traditional rectangular canvas.

 

Ellsworth Kelly's contributions to the art world are widely recognized, and his works are featured in major museums and institutions worldwide. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris have all exhibited retrospectives of his career. His monumental sculptures can be found in public spaces, such as the "Three Ellipses for Three Locks" in the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris. Additionally, Kelly's pieces are part of the collections at the Art Institute of Chicago, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., among many others, cementing his legacy as a pioneering force in 20th-century art.