Sea Star

Sean Scully (b.1945) is an Irish-born, American-based painter and printmaker, best known for his monumental oil paintings which draw on the traditions of Abstract Expressionism. This beautiful catalogue showcases a new body of work inspired by the National Gallery's own collection and in particular by British artist J. M. W. Turner's "The Evening Star" (c. 1830). For Scully, this elegiac picture constitutes one of Turner's most profound paintings, leading to new departures in his own work; using the motif of stripes or checkerboards, the artist evokes landscapes and architecture, horizons, fields, and coastlines, in which his contemplative forms become reminders of personal experiences and distinctive moments. Vast, bold panel paintings with richly textured surfaces are illustrated together with delicate works on paper: aquatints, luminous pastels, and watercolors. The accompanying text includes newly commissioned essays and an interview with the artist, while a photo essay highlights the thick impasto, strong brushstrokes, and vivid colors that distinguish Scully's painting.