Brice Marden, who rose to prominence in 1960s New York, was renowned for an ever-evolving abstract practice with roots in Minimalism, Abstract Expressionism, and calligraphic traditions. Throughout his lyrical canvases, Marden painted colorful networks of serpentine lines that flow hypnotically throughout the picture plane. He sometimes replaced his paintbrush with a stick, giving his lines a more organic appearance. Such interest in line, gesture, and material experimentation was at the heart of Marden’s drawing and painting practices; early in his career, he painted with a kitchen spatula. The artist drew on a range of influences including Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg (for whom he worked as a studio assistant), Francisco de Goya, Diego Velázquez, and 8th-century Chinese stone carvings. His work has been exhibited at major institutions including the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Stedelijk Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, and has sold for eight figures at auction: In 2020, his canvas Complements (2004–07) set a major record for the artist when it achieved $30.9 million.
