Ed Moses

(1926-2018)

A member of the ‘Cool School’ - a group that included Craig Kauffman, Ed Ruscha, Billy Al Bengston, and Robert Irwin - Ed Moses was a pioneering force in the post-war art scene of L.A. His oeuvre, while versatile, is distinct in its vibrant energy and exploratory nature. Though acknowledged by many of his contemporaries as an action painter, Moses approached his painting with an unusual openness to change and experimentation. He referred to himself as "The Mutator," implying that his work was in a constant state of flux - of birth and rebirth. For Moses, painting was a process of self-discovery, and this intense experimentation speaks to the underlying influence he received as a practicing Buddhist for much of his life. Remarking that “the point is not to be in control, but in tune” (1) alludes to Moses’ engagement with the metaphysics and introspection of the creative arts in which he was fully immersed.

Whirl presents an interesting balance of spontaneity and clarity that the artist demonstrated in his abstract paintings throughout his prolific 60-year career. It reveals the quality of being both spontaneously gestural while having a controlled geometry, creating a depth of movement referencing a landscape. The work is a poetic expression of raw energy and experience without the constraints of a formulated style or conclusion.