Joan Mitchell Retrospective: Reflections on Color, Nature, and Artistic Solitude
“The solitude that I find in my studio is one of plentitude. I am enough for myself. I live fully there.””
Back in October, I was fortunate enough to take a trip to San Francisco to see the Joan Mitchell retrospective at SFMoma. Before boarding the plane, I immersed myself in the exhibition catalogue, eagerly anticipating what would be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience Joan Mitchell’s work on such a grand scale.
I’d call Joan an artist’s artist — she was all about the work. And while I’d seen a couple of her paintings in real life, nothing came close to walking through gallery after gallery of her impeccably colored huge canvases. I spent a few hours with her work, and it still wasn’t enough time. It was the kind of exhibition I dream about having in my own city — a space I could return to repeatedly, discovering something new each time I encountered her immense canvases.
Joan Mitchell | La Ligne De La Rupture | 1971 | SFMoma | Photo by Melanie Biehle
Joan Mitchell | La Ligne De La Rupture Detail | 1971 | SFMoma | Photo by Melanie Biehle
Joan Mitchell spent much of her time as an artist in France. After dividing her time between New York City and Paris in the 1950s, she eventually settled in Vétheuil, a small village near Giverny, in 1968. This location, once home to Claude Monet, provided Mitchell with a tranquil and inspiring environment where she lived and worked for the rest of her life. Her home and studio in Vétheuil became the heart of her creative process, blending the tranquility of nature with the energy of her expressive brushstrokes. As an artist, I find this connection between place and creativity deeply inspiring, reminding me of how my own environment shapes my work.
Joan Mitchell | Untitled | 1961 | SFMoma | Photos by Melanie Biehle
Joan Mitchell | Untitled 1961 Details | SFMoma | Photos by Melanie Biehle
Joan Mitchell | Girolata Triptych | 1963 | SFMoma | Photo by Melanie Biehle
Joan Mitchell | Girolata Triptych Detail | 1963 | SFMoma | Photo by Melanie Biehle
I love Joan Mitchell’s expressive use of paint and mastery of color, and I can completely relate to how she describes and connects to her inspiration.
Joan Mitchell | Weeds | 1976 | SFMoma | Photo by Melanie Biehle
“I paint from remembered landscapes that I carry with me – and remembered feelings of them, which of course become transformed.”
Joan Mitchell | Hudson River Day Line | 1955 | SFMoma | Photo by Melanie Biehle
Joan Mitchell | Detail of Hudson River Day Line | 1955 | SFMoma | Photo by Melanie Biehle
Joan Mitchell | La Vie En Rose | 1979 | SFMoma | Photo by Melanie Biehle
Joan Mitchell’s work and her approach to art resonate deeply with me, continually offering new layers of inspiration. If you’re interested in learning more about her life and legacy, I encourage you to explore The Joan Mitchell Foundation.