Blue Planes

Description

Russian-born Ilya Bolotowsky immigrated to America with his family in 1923. They settled in New York where Bolotowsky studied painting and drawing at the National Academy of Design. Later, he spent a year traveling through Europe, which exposed him to a wide variety of artists and artistic techniques that led him away from the Impressionistic style he had developed at the school. Upon his return to New York, Bolotowsky made his way through the Depression painting city scenes for the Public Works Administration Art Project as well as murals for the Works Progress Administration.
Bolotowsky’s painting was deeply influenced by the work of artist Piet Mondrian. Mondrian’s signature style restricted the use of color as well as line: color is limited to red, yellow, blue, and neutrals like black and white; lines are either horizontal or vertical. In Blue Planes the viewer can see Bolotowsky’s adherence to these principles. The lines and colors are free of emotion and create an investigation of visual balance.
Regina DiBella
Modern and Contemporary Art Intern
Summer 2003