Optic (Primary Title)
Robert Cottingham, American, born 1935 (Artist)
"If a painting lacks tension, it’s unsuccessful."—Robert Cottingham
Cottingham’s paintings focus on overlooked details of urban life. After photographing these fragments, the artist crops, edits, and transfers these images to the canvas using a grid and slide projector. He then sketches and paints further.
In addition to his interest in signage and city facades, the play of light on various surfaces—metal, glass, and stone—are Cottingham’s central focus. Although no figures are present, the strong shadows and the words visible on the marquee give Optic an emotional charge, vaguely suggesting drama or even threat.
"The Sydney and Frances Lewis Foundation Collection of Late 20th Century Art", Peninsula Fine Arts, 5 April - 1 May 1985
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