Ellsworth Kelly was an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker renowned for his contributions to hard-edge painting, Color Field painting, and minimalism. His works are characterized by a focus on line, color, and form, and his career spanned over seven decades, during which he became one of the most influential abstract artists of the 20th century. Born on May 31, 1923, in Newburgh, New York, Kelly was the second of three sons. He grew up in northern New Jersey, where his childhood interest in bird-watching and nature would later profoundly influence his artistic vision. After graduating from high school, Kelly attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn from 1941 to 1943, where he studied technical art and design. His education was interrupted when he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. Kelly's military service included a stint in the 603rd Engineer Camouflage Battalion, also known as the "Ghost Army," which used inflatable tanks and other deceptive tactics to mislead enemy forces. This experience with camouflage and the play of light and shadow would later inform his artistic practice. Stationed in Europe towards the end of the war, Kelly was exposed to Romanesque architecture and the historic art of the continent, which left a lasting impression on him. After the war, Kelly took advantage of the G.I. Bill to further his studies at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston from 1947 to 1948. Initially, his work was figurative and influenced by European expressionism. However, in 1948, Kelly moved to Paris, where he would live for six years. This period was crucial for his artistic development. While in Paris, he was exposed to the works of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jean Arp, and Piet Mondrian. Kelly's art gradually shifted from representational to abstract as he became interested in the relationship between painting, sculpture, and architecture. Kelly's first solo show took place in Paris in 1951. During his time in France, he began to experiment with automatic drawing, a technique derived from Surrealism, and was influenced by the random selection of color and form. His work evolved to include grid paintings and large multipanel paintings, where each panel served as a module of color, establishing his lifelong concern with color as form. In 1954, Kelly returned to the United States, settling in New York City. His work stood in contrast to the dominant Abstract Expressionist movement, as he pursued a more detached and empirical approach to art-making. Kelly's hard-edged, nonpainterly works were distinct for their use of spare shapes and sensuous colors, which he derived from his observations of the world around him. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Kelly's reputation grew, and he became increasingly influential among his peers and subsequent generations of artists. His work expanded to include outdoor sculptures and public commissions. In 1970, Kelly moved to Spencertown, New York, where he would continue to work and live with his partner, photographer Jack Shear. Kelly's contributions to art were recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the National Medal of Arts, which he received from President Barack Obama in 2013. He was also honored by the French government with several awards, reflecting his close relationship with the country where he developed his signature style. Ellsworth Kelly passed away on December 27, 2015, at his home in Spencertown, New York, at the age of 92. He left behind a legacy that continues to influence contemporary art. Kelly's work is celebrated for its clarity, simplicity, and the joy it brings to viewers, embodying his belief that art should be an "open, incomplete situation" that captures the "reality of flux" and the "rapture of seeing." His art remains a testament to his unique vision, one that sought to distill the essence of visual experience into bold, abstract forms that resonate with viewers across time.

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